Verband der Fabrikarbeiter Deutschlands
The Association of factory workers in Germany, even for a short factory workers Federation ( FAV) called, was a social-democratic oriented, German union that existed during the time of the German Empire and the Weimar Republic. He was the forerunner of the founded in 1946, IG Chemie, paper, ceramics.
Founding (1890) and First Verbandstag (1892 )
On June 29th 1890 representatives of unskilled workers from 28 locations throughout the German Reich in Hanover came together to Congress all non-commercial workers of Germany. On 1 July 1890, the Association of the factory, agricultural and industrial laborers of Germany was founded with its headquarters in Hanover as a result of this Congress. The chair took over August Lohrberg, however already a month later passed on the office to August Brey.
According to the statutes of the association took on all workers, " which do not engage in certain craft and all industrial workers, which it is not possible by the location of the local environment, to join their professional organizations. " These were mainly workers of the emerging industries such as the chemical, rubber and paper making industry, but also workers in the building materials and food industries, as well as home workers and agricultural workers until 1908.
In August 1892, First Annual Verbandstag was held in Braunschweig. He decided the admission of women and others. The association named accordingly by dressing in the factory, agricultural and industrial laborers and workers in Germany. End of the year was the association almost 3 200 members, including about a thousand women.
Further development in the Empire
In August 1894 the Second Verbandstag Factory Workers' Union in Celle were first presented requests for the introduction of unemployment benefits, but due to lack of financial resources of the association could not be realized.
In the spring of 1896, the Association denied the first time, more industrial action: In Bielefeld, the working of a machine factory in Hamburg workers of an oil mill, a margarine factory and numerous coffee Verleserinnen, in Halberstadt, the workers went on strike a brick. However, the strikes drove the association nearly in financial ruin.
Around the turn of the century almost 32 000 members in the FAV were already organized. 1904 decided the Verbandstag in Hamburg, ten years earlier -considered introduction of unemployment benefit. The end of 1905 the number of members of the Association had more than doubled. Now in its nearly 76 000 men and women belonged to.
The Eighth Ordinary Verbandstag in August 1906 in Leipzig contributed to the increasing number of its members account. The FAV was on his previous character of a general professional association of unskilled and organized itself new. It included now only establishments of
- Professional associations of the chemical industry
- Papermakers BGs
- Brickyard cooperatives
- Sugar trade associations
- Agriculture
- Professional associations of dairies, distilleries, etc.
In August 1908, the Association finally renamed in Federation of Factory Workers in Germany. Since 1912, the FAV was open to all workers and workers in the chemical, paper and building materials, as well as the food industry. From the open professional association of a unskilled industrial workers union had become. The end of 1912 included the already FAV 207 000 members
Weimar period
1919, the Central Association was founded by entrepreneurs and trade unions. Under its roof, the Reich Labor Community chemistry, which included next to the association for the protection of the interests of the chemical industry in Germany and the FAV and the Christian Workers' Association and the Hart- Duncker Trade Union factory and manual workers was born. For the first time could be completed in the large-scale chemical industry collective agreements. By the end of 1919, the FAV experienced a significant upswing. The number of members had over 1912 again more than doubled. In FAV more than 602 000 members were now organized. The FAV was it the fourth largest trade union in the General German Trade Union Federation. In 1913 the Association of flower workers in 1919, the Association of wallpaper, oilcloth and Linoliumdrucker had joined the FAV.
During the years of inflation, however, the FAV suffered a dramatic loss of members. Goods in 1923 almost 523 000 members organized in FAV, he scored 1924 only 325 000 members. In addition, the association lost half of its assets through inflation. In the same year the FAV came out also from the Reich Association chemistry.
In August 1926, however, the glass workers' union and the labor union porcelain FAV joined, what the loss of members counteracted. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the FAV on 28 June 1930 a private association house in Hanover was inaugurated.
In July 1931 August Brey came after more than 40 years in office back on the Verbandstag in Munich by the Presidency of the FAV. New chairman Karl Thiemig was chosen.
In January 1932, the FAV called on all its members to take its place in the Iron Front of the SPD, Reichsbanner, free trade unions and workers' sports associations against the looming fascism and the Nazi Party decided to fight.
The end of the Third Reich
On 1 April 1933 occupied SA- commands the headquarters of the FAV in Hanover and arrested numerous association officials. A Nazi commissar was installed in its place. With the final defeat of Free Trade Unions on 2 May 1933, the FAV was dissolved. Its members were now forced to organize themselves in the German Labor Front.