Feel-good bubbles are also bursting for trade unionists

DGB boss Reiner Hoffmann, designated successor Yasmin Fahimi

Trade union values ​​such as solidarity, justice and internationalism are under pressure.

(Photo: dpa)

Berlin If you look back at Reiner Hoffmann’s tenure as head of the DGB, you have to say that it was eight good years for the unions. Even if they themselves have continued to lose cohesion, they still found a sounding board for their core concerns in the grand coalition and even more so in the traffic light alliance.

Much of what was decided at the last DGB congress is already a political reality or is being planned: a stable level of pensions, more money for investments, a modernization of the welfare state or a reform of co-determination, to name just a few. Even crises such as the euro crisis or, most recently, the pandemic have passed the labor market without major upheaval.

But the turning point or the “epoch break”, as Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Sunday at the opening of the DGB federal congress, also hits the trade unions to the core. Values ​​such as solidarity, justice or internationalism, which are in the DNA of the labor movement, are being challenged by Putin’s war of aggression in Ukraine.

A new system conflict between East and West, the reorganization of the international division of labor, the need to renew the well-fortified democracy – all of this will also have an impact on German society – and on the labor market. And this at a time when the challenges posed by the pandemic, which has not yet been overcome, and the transformation of the economy towards climate neutrality are already great.

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New social divides will open up

As a result, distribution conflicts will increase and new social rifts will open up. Money for social affairs or for defense? More climate protection or energy security? Inflation compensation or secure jobs?

If the trade unions want to live up to their claim as a peace party, both internally and externally, then their main task over the next four years is to moderate such internal and social conflicts of interest.

Many people, says the designated DGB boss Yasmin Fahimi, have made themselves comfortable in a feel-good bubble in recent years. Striking them up will be one of the main tasks of Germany’s new top trade unionist. However, this also includes showing our own clientele the limits of what is feasible over and over again. Trade unionists will also see one or the other feel-good bubble burst in the next four years.

“We shape the future” is the self-confident slogan that stands above the DGB Congress. And the unions have proved often enough that they are not in the brake booth, says outgoing chairman Hoffmann.

It has been a long time since the trade unions played a constructive role as much as they do now. If they prove themselves in this crisis, there may be a turning point in membership development at some point.

More on this: Designated DGB boss Yasmin Fahimi: “If incompetence and smartass come together, then I can become poisonous”

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