Editing Ver.di (section)

=== Membership numbers and structure ===
Verdi's total number of members decreased from 2.81 to 2.04 million between 2001 and 2014.<ref>{{cite web|language=de|url=http://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/74814/umfrage/mitglieder-der-gewerkschaft-verdi-seit-2001/|title=Anzahl der Mitglieder der Gewerkschaft ver.di von 2001 bis 2014 (in Millionen)|website=Statista|date=January 2015|access-date=September 1, 2015}}</ref> One of the reasons behind this decrease is the union's competition with rival trade unions such as the physicians' union [[Marburger Bund]] and the pilots' association [[Vereinigung Cockpit]].<ref>{{cite news|language=de|title=Seit dem Jahr 2001 hat Verdi jedes fünfte Mitglied verloren|newspaper=Neue Württembergische Zeitung|date=November 6, 2007|pages=4}}</ref> According to observers, Verdi is "comparatively good" at recruiting new members but is limited in its success when it comes to establishing loyalty among its members on a long-term basis.<ref>{{cite book|language=de|author1=Bettina Munimus|author2=Diana Rüdt|author3=Wolfgang Schroeder|title=Seniorenpolitik im Wandel: Verbände und Gewerkschaften als Interessenvertreter der älteren Generation|publisher=Campus Verlag|location=Frankfurt am Main|date=2010|isbn=978-3-593-39318-6|pages=371}}</ref> In fact, the battle against decreasing interest among employees and women in particular was already an issue even before the merger of the five individual unions in 2001.<ref>{{cite news|language=de|author=Christine Möllhoff|title=Die deutschen Gewerkschaften bald Clubs der alten Männer?|newspaper=Darmstädter Echo|date=August 7, 1999}}</ref> In 2003, member numbers dropped so low that Verdi was forced to let some of its own staff go.<ref>{{cite web|language=de|url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/archiv/weniger-mitglieder-verdi-muss-personalkosten-senken/2232276.html|title=Weniger Mitglieder: Verdi muss Personalkosten senken|website=Handelsblatt|date=March 11, 2003|access-date=September 1, 2015}}</ref> This was, however, also due to the fact that many structures were duplicated in the Verdi administration after the merger.<ref>{{cite news|language=de|author=Ruppert Mayr, Kristina Pezzei|title=Verdi kämpft mit den Altlasten der Fusion|newspaper=Sächsische Zeitung|date=October 22, 2003|pages=2}}</ref> In 2007, the National Congress instructed the executive board to take measures to stop or even reverse the dwindling member numbers. This led to the initiation of the "Chance 2011" (Opportunity 2011) campaign,<ref>{{cite news|language=de|author=Kolja Rudzio|title=Die Mitglieder laufen davon|newspaper=Die Zeit|date=September 15, 2011|pages=33}}</ref> which was continued in a similar form under the title of "Perspektive 2015" (Prospects for 2015) in 2012.<ref>{{cite news|language=de|author=Maike Rademaker|title=Verdi schrumpft: Die Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft will mit einer Kampagne den Mitgliederschwund stoppen|newspaper=Financial Times Deutschland|date=October 22, 2012|pages=9}}</ref> As a result, Verdi representatives were able to refer to an "end to dwindling member numbers" in 2015, at least with regard to [[New states of Germany|Germany's new federal states]] (from the former [[East Germany|GDR]]).<ref>{{cite news|language=de|author=Franziska Höhnl|title=Ende des Mitgliederschwunds|newspaper=Mitteldeutsche Zeitung|date=August 4, 2015}}</ref> Today, it represents 200,000 employees in state and publicly listed banks alone.<ref>Tom Sims and Michael Nienaber (March 12, 2019), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-commerzbank-m-a-deutsche-bank/germanys-verdi-union-opposed-to-deutsche-commerzbank-merger-idUSKBN1QT17F Germany's Verdi union opposed to Deutsche-Commerzbank merger] ''[[Reuters]]''.</ref>

Verdi has been running a member network that is open to Verdi members only since December 2008.<ref>{{cite web|language=de|url=http://www.jav.info/blog/mitgliedernetz-feiert-geburtstag|title=Unser Mitgliedernetz feiert Geburtstag!|website=jav.info|access-date=December 17, 2015|date=December 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224093543/http://www.jav.info/blog/mitgliedernetz-feiert-geburtstag|archive-date=February 24, 2016}}</ref> Alongside member information and online services, the network enables members to get in touch and exchange expertise and experiences in forums.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Barbara Hackenjos|author2=Romin Khan|title=Bei Facebook oder im Mitgliedernetz: Aus Kollegen werden Freunde|editor=Frank Bsirske|display-authors=etal|journal=Grenzenlos Vernetzt? Gewerkschaftliche Positionen zur Netzpolitik|publisher=VSA-Verlag|location=Hamburg|date=2012|isbn=978-3-89965-488-2}}.</ref> In 2012, a working platform for committees, special interest groups, shop stewards and other individuals actively involved in the running of Verdi was added to the member network. The members of this platform can use it to hold discussions in closed groups, chat and provide information.<ref>{{cite book|language=de|author1=Karl-Hermann Böker|author2=Ute Demuth|author3=Maria Lück|title=Intranet und Internet für Betriebsräte: Planung, Entwicklung, Umsetzung|publisher=Bund-Verlag|location=Frankfurt am Main|date=2013|isbn=978-3-7663-8315-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|language=de|editor1=Hans Christian Voigt|editor2=Thomas Kreiml|title=Soziale Bewegungen und Social Media – Handbuch für den Einsatz von Web 2.0|publisher=ÖGB-Verlag|location=Vienna|date=2011|isbn=978-3-7035-1462-3}}</ref>