Membership Growth and Political Influence

The trade unions in Germany appear to be in the ascendant. An analysis of the results of the German General Social Survey (ALLBUS) shows that the net density rate of trade unions has recently risen to 20.6 per cent, an increase of 2.6 percentage points over its low point in 2006. Moreover, the trade unions have managed to return from the political sidelines onto which they manoeuvred themselves with their opposition to Agenda 2010, a reform programme launched by a Social Democratic / Green coalition government in 2003. However, whether these successes will endure is by no means sure. An analysis of union membership reveals that unionisation of male, full-time and older employees is above average. However, the latest membership growth will only continue if the unions succeed in organising more women, part-timers and young people.