The Paper and Publishing Industry Union ( nl, Centrale der Boek- en Papiernijverheid, CBP; french: Centrale de l'industrie du Livre et du Papier, CLP) 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 workers in the graphical industries in

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

. The union was founded on 1 January 1945, when the

Union of Bookworkers of Belgium The Union of Bookworkers of Belgium (french: Centrale des travailleurs du livre de Belgique; nl, Centrale der Boekbewerkers van België, CBB) was a trade union representing printers and bookbinders in Belgium. After World War I, the unions affilia ...

came together with former members of the

Belgian Typographical Federation The Belgian Typographical Federation (french: Fédération typographique belge, FTB; nl, Belgische Typografische Federatie, BTF), also known as the Belgian Book Printers' Union, was a trade union representing printers in Belgium. The union was e ...

and established a new organisation. It was then a founder constituent of the

General Federation of Belgian Labour The General Labour Federation of Belgium (french: Fédération Générale du Travail de Belgique, or FGTB; nl, Algemeen Belgisch Vakverbond, ABVV) is a socialist national trade union federation in Belgium. It was founded in 1945. It is affiliated ...

(ABVV). While always a relatively small union, with a peak membership of 18,017 in 1975, for its first three decades, it was considered strong and highly successful. However, increased mechanisation and computerisation of the industry led to widespread job losses, and many remaining workers were placed on precarious freelance contracts. By 1995, union membership was down to only 11,878, and while there was a consensus that it should merge into a larger union, there was disagreement over which one it should choose. The union's secretariat decided to merge it into the

Association of Employees, Technicians and Managers The Association of Employees, Technicians and Managers ( nl, Bond van Bedienden, Technici en Kaderleden, BBTK; french: Syndicat des Employés, Techniciens et Cadres, SETCa) is a trade union representing white collar staff in Belgium. The union was ...

, the amalgamation taking place on 1 January 1996, but the Flemish region instead joined the

General Union A general union is a trade union (called ''labor union'' in American English) which represents workers from all industries and companies, rather than just one organisation or a particular sector, as in a craft union or industrial union. A gene ...

. Soon afterwards, the majority of former union members in Brussels and Wallonia also transferred to the General Union.{{cite book , last1=Ebbinghaus , first1=Bernhard , last2=Visser , first2=Jelle , title=Trade Unions in Western Europe Since 1945 , date=2000 , publisher=Palgrave Macmillan , location=Basingstoke , isbn=0333771125 , page=131

References

Printing trade unions Trade unions in Belgium Trade unions established in 1945 Trade unions disestablished in 1996 1945 establishments in Belgium 1996 disestablishments in Belgium