Trade unionist: long-time DGB boss Michael Sommer died

Former DGB boss Michael Sommer died at the age of 73. This was announced by the German Trade Union Confederation in Berlin. Summer was chairman from 2002 to 2014. “We lose a large trade unionist,” said the trade union association. Sommer had significantly shaped the fortunes of the German trade union movement and tirelessly campaigned for solidarity and justice. “Michael Sommer was one of us with body and soul,” emphasized the DGB.

Among other things, he fought against the Hartz reforms of the then federal government under Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD) and against the expansion of precarious employment. Summer’s greatest success was the enforcement of the general statutory minimum wage, the DGB continued. This was introduced on January 1, 2015.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in his condolence over the summer: “He was always clearly in his attitude and steadfastly in his commitment to a just and solidarity society. With his work, he has given our democratic community an invaluable service.”

Bundestag President Julia Klöckner emphasized: “With Michael Sommer we lose a big trade unionist. One who, like no other for the interests of the employees and for a strong voice of the social partners: clearly in his demands, but always ready to compromise.”

Full -time trade unionist

Summer was born on January 17, 1952 in Büderich near Düsseldorf and temporarily grew up in an orphanage, as it was said. At the age of 19 he joined the German Postal Union (DPG) in 1971. After studying political science at the Free University of Berlin, summer became a full -time trade unionist in the postal union, which later opened in the Verdi union. In 2002 he followed the outgoing DGB chairman Dieter Schulte in office. Summer was temporarily president of the international trade union association with 168 million members worldwide. In 2014 he handed over to his successor Reiner Hoffmann.

Sommer had fought for ten years for the minimum wage, also against resistance in their own ranks. Finally, the statutory border of wages under Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) became a reality. As a farewell, summer 2014 said: “The German trade union movement has been strengthened again. Our solidarity has defied some storms.”

Kidney donation to his wife

At the time, the trade unionist emphasized that after twelve years he voluntarily gave the top. Before that, he had not only been operated on the stomach and bile, but also donated a kidney to his wife. In retirement, he rarely appeared.

The DGB recalled Sommer’s principles and its basic conviction: “We are independent of party politics, but not politically neutral.” He often quoted the appeal of the trade unionist Wilhelm Leuschner: “Creates the unity” – and thus opposed ideological disputes in the ranks of the unions. His motto was: “You don’t have to pass on the ashes, but the fire.”