Federation of the several Trade Unions

As determined by the Constitution of the OeGB, the trade unions affiliated to the Austrian Federation of Trade Unions act in accordance with the general principles and guidelines of the Federation. Thus they have no legal status of their own or capacity to act.

On the one hand, certain tasks and rights have been conferred upon the individual unions, on the other hand, there is a strong centralisation of the trade union movement, which is unique in Western Europe. Through this unity, the Federation has a strong influence on the whole political system in Austria. In New York, for example, around 90 different trade unions compete against each other for the representation of employees. The result is chaos and a loss of political and social efficiency.

The structure of the trade unions resembles that of the Austrian Federation of Trade Unions. Additionally they have separate youth, pensioners' and women's departments.

Each trade union issues its own journal, which informs about specific trade union and occupational matters and is distributed to members free of charge.

The trade unions of the OeGB are:

• GPA-DJP - Union of Salaried Private Sector Employees, Printers, Journalists and Paper Workers
• GOeD - Union of Public Services
• GdG - Union of Municipal Employees
• KMSfB - Union of Art, Media, Sports and Freelance Workers
• GBH - Union of Construction and Woodworkers
• GdC - Union of Chemical Workers
• vida - Union Commerce and Service Workers
• GPF - Union of Postal and Telegraph Workers
• GMTN - Union of Metal, Textil and Food Workers

The bodies

The bodies of the trade unions are the Trade Union Congress (analogous to the National Congress of the OeGB), the Central or Main Executive Board (analogous to the National Executive Board of the OeGB), the Presidium and the Audit Commission.

The concerns and opinions of the several trade unions are voiced by their delegates to the National Congress and to the National Executive Board of the OeGB. These delegates are elected from the boards of the trade unions. Their number depends on the numerical strength of the individual trade union. But even the smallest union is entitled to send at least four voting delegates to the National Congress.

Main tasks

The principal tasks of the trade unions include:
Organisational tasks, such as advertising, providing services for members, collecting membership dues, representing the social, economic, occupational and cultural interests of their members, e.g. by negotiating collective agreements, pressing ahead with industry-specific demands, providing legal protection, running educational, youth and women's activities, running of trade-union training and recreation centres, etc.

In addition to that, the trade unions grant assistance supplementing that of the OeGB in case of strikes and lockouts. They also play an important part in the training of works council members and the promotion of vocational training and further training.