The German Transport Workers' Union (german: Deutsche Transportarbeiter-Verband, DTV) was a

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...

representing transport workers in Germany. The union was founded in 1897 as the Association of Commercial, Transport and Communication Workers, and it affiliated to the General Commission of German Trade Unions. It grew rapidly, with the German Railway Workers' Union joining in 1908, and the

Union of Dockers of Germany The Union of Dockers of Germany (german: Verband der Hafenarbeiter Deutschlands) was a trade union representing dock workers in Germany. The union was founded on 1 January 1891, in the aftermath of a major strike in Hamburg. It brought together va ...

and the

Central Union of Sailors of Germany The Central Union of Sailors of Germany (german: Zentralverband seemännischer Arbeiter Deutschlands) was a trade union representing sailors and related workers in the German merchant navy. Albert Störmer, leader of the Hamburg sailors' union, cal ...

both joining in 1910, taking membership to 230,000 by 1913. Although the Railway Workers disaffiliated in 1916, as the

German Railway Union The German Railway Union (german: Deutsche Eisenbahner-Verband, DEV) was a trade union representing railway workers in Germany. The union was established in 1916, when the railway section of the German Transport Workers' Union The German Transpo ...

, the DTV embarked on a series of further mergers: with the German Porters' Union in 1919, the Central Union of German Post and Telegraph Staff in 1921, and the Union of Domestic Workers of Germany in 1923. Membership peaked at 582,000 in 1922. After

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, it affiliated to the new General German Trade Union Confederation. In 1923, it shortened its name to become the German Transport Union. By 1930, membership had fallen to 390,000, and the union merged with the Union of Municipal and State Workers, the

Union of Gardeners and Nursery Workers The Union of Gardeners and Nursery Workers (german: Verband der Gärtner und Gärtnereiarbeiter) was a trade union representing gardeners, horticultural workers, and flower arrangers in Germany. The union was founded in 1890 as the General German ...

, and the Union of German Professional Firefighters, to form the

General Union of Public Sector and Transport Workers The General Union of Public Sector and Transport Workers (german: Gesamtverband der Arbeitnehmer der öffentlichen Betriebe und des Personen- und Warenverkehrs, GV) was a trade union representing workers in various industries in Germany. History F ...

. Throughout its existence, the union was led by Oswald Schumann.

References

{{Authority control Trade unions established in 1897 Trade unions disestablished in 1930 Trade unions in Germany Transportation trade unions