The Union of Food and Drink Workers (german: Verband der Nahrungsmittel- und Getränkearbeiter, VNG) 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 food and drink processing industry in Germany. The union was founded in 1927, when the Central Union of Bakers and Confectioners merged with the Union of Brewery and Mill Workers, the

Central Union of Butchers The Central Union of Butchers and Kindred Trades of Germany (german: Zentralverband der Fleischer und Berufsgenossen Deutschlands) was a trade union representing butchers and abattoir workers in Germany. In 1898, Theodor Keslinke founded the Local ...

, and the Union of Coopers, Cellar Managers, and Helpers in Germany. On formation, the union had 159,636 members and, like its predecessors, it affiliated to the

General German Trade Union Confederation The General German Trade Union Federation (german: Allgemeiner Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund, ADGB) was a confederation of German trade unions in Germany founded during the Weimar Republic. It was founded in 1919 and was initially powerful enough to ...

. It was based in Berlin, and led by

Eduard Backert Eduard Backert (20 April 1874 – 3 February 1960) was a German trade unionist. Born in Rottmar (now part of Föritztal) in the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, Backert trained as a brewery worker, settling in Weida in 1892, where he joined the Cent ...

. In 1933, it was banned by the Nazis, and after

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, workers in the industry were represented by the

Food, Beverages and Catering Union The Food, Beverages and Catering Union (german: Gewerkschaft Nahrung-Genuss-Gaststätten, NGG) is a trade union in Germany. It has a membership of 205,900 and is one of eight industrial affiliates of the German Confederation of Trade Unions. Mem ...

References

Food processing trade unions German food industry organisations Trade unions in Germany Trade unions established in 1927 Trade unions disestablished in 1933 {{Europe-trade-union-stub