Workers club
Workers 'associations were associations with a political character that emerged from the workers' movement in the 19th century. Historically, the goal of the majority of all workers' associations was a noticeable improvement in the social situation of the workers and better working conditions. Today, workers' associations primarily serve cultural and sporting purposes as well as social gatherings for workers.
history
→ Main article History of the German workers' associations
In the face of deteriorating working conditions in the early 19th century, the workers were dissatisfied with the existing conditions and at the same time the desire for change arose. Due to repressive laws in Germany, it was initially not possible for the workers to form groups of interests here. That is why the first German workers' associations were founded in other European countries. In 1832, German craftsmen, who were often abroad due to their traditional journeyman migration, united in Paris to form the German People's Association. It was only with the revolutionary unrest of the years that workers' associations appeared publicly in Germany. Here they advocated change, sometimes radically, but were initially pushed back when the revolution failed. Nevertheless, numerous workers' associations remained active in Germany after 1849 and organized themselves in union-like gathering movements; some of these are considered direct forerunners of today's SPD .
In addition, especially since the time of the Empire, there were also denominational workers' associations ( Catholic workers' association , Evangelical workers' associations ), which differentiated themselves from social democracy.
Current situation
Workers' clubs are now primarily used for cultural, sporting or social gatherings, e.g. B. in gymnastics, hiking or denominational clubs. In addition, there are associations of individual interest groups, for example those with a migration background.
See also
literature
- Dieter Dowe (Ed.): Reports on the negotiations of the Association Days of German Workers' Associations. 1863–1869 (= reprints on social history. ). Reprints 1863–1869. With an introduction by Shlomo Na'aman as well as a person index , magazine and newspaper index and place index by Max Schwarz. Dietz, Berlin et al. 1980, ISBN 3-8012-2095-8 .
- Axel Kuhn : The German labor movement (= Reclams Universal Library . 17042). Reclam, Stuttgart 2004, ISBN 3-15-017042-7 .
