Solidarität, Humanität, Identität

Overview & Synopsis

In the German Empire and the Weimar Republic, German trade unions maintained social funds for their members. This "union-owned social insurance" provided millions of workers with additional benefits beyond the state social insurance system in cases of unemployment, illness, old age, or retirement. Supporting members financially became a central task of the trade unions. From a historical perspective, this development reveals much about how the self-conception of trade unions evolved and continues to change today. The history also illustrates how the concept of "solidarity"—a key political guiding principle to this day—was institutionally reinforced through the support system.