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Ver.di
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== Establishment == Verdi was established in March 2001 as the result of a merger of five individual unions, all of which, other than the DAG, had previously belonged to the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB): * [[German Salaried Employees' Union]] (DAG) * [[German Postal Union]] (DPG) * [[Trade, Banking and Insurance Union]] (HBV) * [[Media Union]] (IG Medien) * [[Public Services, Transport and Traffic Union]] (ÖTV) The oldest forerunner of Verdi was the Association of German Printers (Verband der Deutschen Buchdrucker), which was founded in 1866.<ref>{{cite web|language=de|url=http://www.150jahrejung.verdi.de/|title=150 Jahre jung: Vom Deutschen Buchdruckerverband zur Einheitsgewerkschaft ver.di|website=verdi.de|access-date=June 9, 2016}}</ref> Discussions on closer cooperation between German trade unions had already been conducted back in the 1990s. These negotiations not only involved the future founding partners of Verdi, but also the former [[TRANSNET Gewerkschaft|TRANSNET]] (GdED), the [[Education and Science Workers' Union (Germany)|Education and Science Workers' Union]] (GEW) and the [[Food, Beverages and Catering Union]] (NGG). On 4 October 1997, the chairmen of the DAG, DPG, GEW, HBV, IG Medien and ÖTV signed the "Hamburg Declaration", in which they supported the reorganisation of the representation of trade union interests in the [[service sector]].<ref>{{cite news|language=de|author=Ulrike Füssel|title=Acht sitzen am runden Tisch. Dienstleistungssektor im DGB wird neu zugeschnitten.|newspaper=[[Frankfurter Rundschau]]|date=October 2, 1997|pages=7}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|language=de|title=Neuordnung angestrebt|newspaper=[[Handelsblatt]]|date=October 6, 1997|pages=4}}</ref> This resulted in the establishment of a steering committee that worked in close cooperation with the executive committees of the trade unions involved to develop the key aspects of the fusion and the structure of the future large trade union. After the GEW had left the merger process, the heads of the DAG, DPG, HBV, IG Medien and ÖTV agreed on the merger in the German city of [[Magdeburg]] in June 1999. In autumn of the same year, they opened a joint office in Berlin and in November 1999, the delegates of the five unions held extraordinary union conferences at which they agreed to establish a transitional organisation (GO-ver.di).<ref>{{cite news|language=de|title=Schröder weist Kritik am Bündnis für Arbeit zurück – Dienstleistungs-Gewerkschaften in Berlin unter einem Dach|newspaper=[[Der Tagesspiegel]]|date=October 9, 1999|pages=20}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|language=de|title=Gewerkschaften: Weichen für Verdi gestellt|newspaper=[[Spiegel Online]]|date=November 19, 1999|url=http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/gewerkschaften-weichen-fuer-verdi-gestellt-a-53036.html|access-date=December 9, 2015}}</ref> The representatives of the unions involved viewed the merger as a historic step, claiming that it would bring an end to the "rivalry among unions" in the service sector.<ref>{{cite news|language=de|title=Mönig-Raane: Konkurrenzdenken unter Gewerkschaften beenden|newspaper=[[Handelsblatt]]|date=October 13, 1999|pages=4}}</ref> Other observers criticised the merger, with IG Metall in particular expressing its concerns that the size of Verdi may cause it to make the DGB "explode".<ref>{{cite news|language=de|title=Zwickel warnt vor Supergewerkschaft|newspaper=[[Stuttgarter Zeitung]]|date=October 4, 1999|pages=2}}</ref> Critics also feared that the new trade union may force its way into the original areas of responsibility of the industrial unions.<ref>{{cite news|language=de|title=Front gegen neue Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft|newspaper=[[Handelsblatt]]|date=May 28, 1999|pages=6}}</ref> The German pilots' association [[Vereinigung Cockpit]] even used the planned merger as an opportunity to end its existing cooperation with the DAG.<ref>{{cite news|language=de|title=Piloten gehen von Bord|newspaper=[[Der Spiegel]]|date=June 7, 1999|pages=84}}</ref> In spring 2000, the merger project was brought to a temporary halt after the DAG and HBV adopted different positions on Saturday work at banks.<ref>{{cite news|language=de|title=Verdi-Partner gehen getrennte Wege. DAG einigt sich mit Banken, die HBV aber nicht|newspaper=Rhein-Zeitung|date=January 26, 2000}}</ref> The negotiations on the new Verdi Statute were a particular cause for conflict, so much so that they even resulted in temporary warnings that the major union may fail. Some of the ÖTV rank and file believed that the new trade union did not sufficiently consider their interests and observers believed that the ÖTV may be divided by the Verdi decision.<ref>{{cite news|language=de|author=Oliver Schade|title=Großgewerkschaft gefährdet|newspaper=[[Stuttgarter Zeitung]]|date=January 27, 2000|pages=2}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|language=de|author=Anselm Bengeser|title=Der ÖTV-Chef vor der Quadratur des Kreises|newspaper=[[General-Anzeiger (Bonn)|General-Anzeiger]]|date=June 9, 2000|pages=4}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|language=de|newspaper=[[Berliner Morgenpost]]|title=ÖTV droht wegen Verdi Spaltung|date=September 12, 2000|pages=5}}</ref> Against this background, IG Medien even went as far as to suggest a merger without the ÖTV if necessary.<ref>{{cite news|language=de|title=IG Medien für Verdi auch ohne ÖTV|newspaper=[[Berliner Morgenpost]]|date=September 9, 2000|pages=2}}</ref> In November 2000, the delegates from the DAG, DPG, HBV and IG Medien nevertheless voted in favour of the establishment of Verdi with majorities of between and 78 and 99 percent.<ref>{{cite news|language=de|title=Verdi nimmt weitere Hürden. Zwei Gewerkschaften stimmen zu – Post mit Traumergebnis|newspaper=[[Die Welt]]|date=November 21, 2000|pages=13}}</ref> The positive outcome of the ÖTV was the weakest with a majority of just 65 percent.<ref>{{cite web|language=de|url=http://www.mopo.de/news/dienstag-07-11-2000--18-50-rueckschlag-fuer-super---gewerkschaft-ver-di,5066732,6042856.html|title=Rückschlag für Supergewerkschaft ver.di|website=[[Hamburger Morgenpost]]|date=November 7, 2000|access-date=August 22, 2015}}</ref> Herbert Mai therefore decided not to stand for re-election as the union's Chairman. His elected successor, Frank Bsirske, was also in favour of the merger and announced that he additionally planned to run for the role of Verdi Chairman.<ref>{{cite web|language=de|url=http://www.mopo.de/news/donnerstag-09-11-2000--11-42-frank-bsirske-neuer-oetv---chef,5066732,6037154.html|title=Frank Bsirske neuer ÖTV-Chef|website=[[Hamburger Morgenpost]]|date=November 9, 2000|access-date=August 22, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|language=de|url=https://www.welt.de/print-welt/article546427/OeTV-hebt-einen-Gruenen-auf-den-Chefsessel.html|title=ÖTV hebt einen Grünen auf den Chefsessel|website=[[Die Welt]]|date=November 10, 2000|access-date=August 22, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|language=de|url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/neuer-oetv-chef-aufbruchstimmung-erzielt-a-102097.html|title=Neuer ÖTV-Chef: "Aufbruchstimmung erzielt"|website=[[Spiegel Online]]|date=November 10, 2000|access-date=August 22, 2015}}</ref> The final step towards the establishment of Verdi involved the merger congresses of the five member unions, which took place between 16 and 18 March 2001 and resolved to dissolve the unions with majorities of between 80 and 91 percent.<ref>{{cite web|language=de|url=http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/verdi-oetv-stimmt-fuer-selbstaufloesung-a-122874.html|title=Verdi: ÖTV stimmt für Selbstauflösung|website=[[Spiegel Online]]|date=March 16, 2001|access-date=August 22, 2015}}</ref> At the subsequent founding congress of Verdi, which was held between 19 and 21 March 2001, the establishment of the trade union was formally completed and Verdi's first National Executive Board was elected.<ref>{{cite web|language=de|url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/wirtschaft/verdi-die-fusion-ist-perfekt/212262.html|title=Verdi: Die Fusion ist perfekt|website=[[Der Tagesspiegel]]|date=March 19, 2001|access-date=August 24, 2015}}</ref> In the same month, Verdi concluded its first collective agreement with [[Lufthansa|Deutsche Lufthansa]].<ref>{{cite web|language=de|url=http://www.schwaebische.de/home_artikel,-_arid,132895.html|title=Tarifkonflikt bei Lufthansa-Bodenpersonal beigelegt|website=[[Schwäbische Zeitung]]|date=March 24, 2001|access-date=August 24, 2015}}</ref> A short time later, Verdi was officially accepted into the DGB.<ref>{{cite news|language=de|title=Verdi ist jetzt Mitglied im DGB – Aufnahme beschlossen|newspaper=[[Berliner Zeitung]]|date=July 4, 2001|pages=31}}</ref>
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