A Brief Historical Overview

The main reason for the foundation of trade unions was the general wish of workers to improve their working conditions. The Austrian Trade Union Federation (OeGB) was founded in April 1945. It is based on the two principles of solidarity and effective representation of interests.

However, the history of the Austrian trade union movement stretches far back in time, dating from the Middle Ages and the establishment of craftsmen's guilds.

First worker associations

The first half of the nineteenth century was marked by working days of up to 16 hours, extremely low wages and child labour. This led to a lot of conflicts and caused workers to stand up in groups in order to represent common interests. But only after the Revolution of 1848, the right to form worker associations was granted and their administration protected by law.

After 1870 social conflicts became increasingly bitter and the number of trade union members grew. By the end of 1873 there were 237 trade unions in Austria with a total membership of around 83,000. During the time of the monarchy, however, they were persecuted in many ways. It was only at the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century that they were tolerated.

"Eight hours work, eight hours leisure, eight hours rest"

The reduction of working time was an international concern. "Eight hours work, eight hours leisure, eight hours rest" - was the parole that encouraged demonstrations worldwide. In 1889, inspired by protest marches in the USA, the International Socialist Congress agreed to organise an international demonstration for an eight-hour-workday on May 1st. In Vienna and many other cities people went out on the streets. From this time on demonstrations and marches have been staged on this day all over the world. In Austria, the eight-hour-workday and various other social improvements could be achieved in the years 1918 to 1920.

Fight for universal suffrage

Another important step for trade unions at the beginning of the twentieth century was the fight for the universal right to vote. For the first time trade unions went straight to parliament to assert their interests. A general strike in the year 1905 finally brought the universal suffrage for all men, which was first applied in 1907 (till then more money meant a better voter class and thus more delegates for your class). Woman suffrage was established in the year 1918.

Collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire

After the end of World War I the years of the huge Austro-Hungarian Empire with 52 million inhabitants were over. Austria became a small state with a population of approximately seven million. Having been cut off from its previous agricultural areas and sources of raw materials, the Austrian people first had to create a new basis of existence. This was the time when the trade unions movement took a huge step forward. At the end of 1919 the total membership of the trade unions reached a record level of 770,000.

In the Austro-Hungarian Empire but also in the First Republic, all trade union organisations had close links with a political party or other powerful groups in society. "Free" trade unions, which had developed from the socialist workers' movement, existed alongside each other and often competing with one another. In 1918 they were followed by Communist, "Christian", "national" and "independent" (or "yellow") trade unions.

Dissolved by Hitler

In 1934 the free trade unions were prohibited and had to go underground. The communist trade unions were also banned. In 1938 Austria was "annexed" by Hitler's Germany and all the other trade unions were dissolved.

Instead, the Nazi regime incorporated all workers and employers into a compulsory organisation, the "German Labour Front". So for the first time a unitary organisation existed in Austria, but - due to the presence of the employers - it was dependent on the regime and had nothing in common with a free trade union movement.

When Nazi Germany occupied Austria in March 1938 there were no organised workers left who were ready and in a position to oppose the Nazi troops. Only during the Second World War did resistance groups develop which had to suffer a lot of sacrifices. Thousands of Austrian union officials were imprisoned, executed or killed in concentration camps. It was during this time that the idea of a united, non-partisan Austrian trade union federation arose.

Starting from the scratch

In 1945, as Austria was recovering after the end of the Hitler regime, there was no legal trade union mechanism in existence. The trade union movement had to start from the scratch.

At the initiative of some shop stewards of the former free trade unions, Socialist, Communist and Christian Social trade unionists agreed in April 1945 to found a trade union organisation above all parties. On April 15th 1945 an official decision was taken to set up the Austrian Trade Union Federation (OeGB). The first president was Johann Böhm. Thus, in the Second Republic and for the first time in Austrian history there existed a trade union federation with a non-partisan basis.

Since then the OeGB has achieved numerous improvements concerning the reduction of working time, collective bargaining and social welfare. This has made Austria to one of the world's most successful countries in terms of its economic and social situation. The Austrian model of social partnership is synonymous with this success. It stands for the comprehensive and co-ordinated representation of interests.

Situation today

After the elections of 1999 the People's Party (OeVP) formed a coalition with the Austrian Freedom Party (FPOe) and the Social Democratic Party (SPOe) went into opposition. Since then there have been massive cuts in Austria's social system.

Nevertheless the OeGB is fighting for the maintenance of the Austrian welfare state and is, if necessary, willing to protect its interests through demonstrations, protest actions and strikes, as May and June of the year 2003 showed. On June 3rd 2003 the biggest strike actions of more than 50 years took place against the planned pension reform of the government.