The Central Union of Shoemakers of Germany (German: Zentralverband der Schuhmacher Deutschlands, ZVdSch) was a trade union representing people working in the shoemaking industry in Germany.
Zentralverband der Schuhmacher Deutschlands | |
 | |
| Successor | Industrial Union of Leather (E Germany) Leather Union (W Germany) |
|---|---|
| Founded | August 1883 |
| Dissolved | 2 May 1933 |
| Headquarters | 1 Essenweinstraße, Nuremberg |
| Location |
|
Members | 78,834 (1928) |
Key people | Josef Simon (President) |
| Publication | Der Schuhmacher |
| Affiliations | ADGB, IFBSO |
The union was founded in August 1883 at a meeting in Gotha, as the Support Association of German Shoemakers. Due to the Anti-Socialist Laws, it could not describe itself as a trade union, but it operated unemployment and relocation funds for workers. It established headquarters in Offenbach am Main, and in 1887 renamed itself as the Union of German Shoemakers.[1][2] In 1890, it began admitting women, the first men's union in Germany to do so.[3]
In 1900, Josef Simon became the leader of the union, and led it through a difficult five years of strikes, lock outs, and economic struggles.[4] In 1904, it became the "Central Union of Shoemakers of Germany", and it began growing more rapidly.[2] It was the main founder of the International Federation of Boot and Shoe Operatives in 1907, and a founding affiliate of the General German Trade Union Confederation in 1919.[4] By 1928, it had 78,834 members.[5]
The union was banned by the Nazi government in 1933. After World War II, shoemakers were represented by the Leather Union.[6]
References
edit- ^ Zinner, Dionys (31 July 1908). "Das Fünfundzwanzigjährige Jubiläum des Verbandes der Schuhmacher Deutschlands". Die Neue Zeit. 2 (44): 646–649.
- ^ a b Protokolle und Berichte der Zentralbibliothek der Gewerkschaften. Zentralbibliothek der Gewerkschaften. p. 26.
- ^ "100 Jahre Frauenwahlrecht in Deutschland". IG BCE. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ a b Weickers, Gustav (1931). Simon, Josef. ADGB. pp. 1488–1489.
- ^ Heyde, Ludwig (1931). Internationales Handwörterbuch des Gewerkschaftswesens. Berlin: ADGB. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ^ "Simon , Josef". Deutsche Biographie. Retrieved 9 June 2020.