Since May 2002 Michael Sommer has been President of the Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund. This “well-educated grafter” learnt his trade in the German Postal Union (DPG) and played a leading role in the founding of ver.di. The particular strengths of the DGB President lie in the areas of strategic planning, constitutional matters, public relations work and international and European trade union policy.
Sommer was born on 17 January 1952 in Büderich. He studied politics at Berlin Free University from 1971 to 1980. In order to finance his studies he spent the same period working for the post office in the package and express delivery departments.
In 1982 he became head of the press and PR department at the head office of the DPG. Following a three-month study tour to the USA he took over the leadership of the presidency and constitutional affairs department in 1988.
From October 1993 onwards Sommer was a member of the DPG’s steering committee and was elected Deputy President of the DPG four years later. He was in charge of finances, trade union assets, personnel, publications and advertising.
When the services trade union ver.di was founded he took up the post of Deputy President of the organisation in March 2001. On 28 May 2002 he succeeded Dieter Schulte as President of the Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund.
Career details:
17.01.1952 Born in Büderich. He is married and has one daughter.
1971 to 1980 Political studies at Berlin Free University (FU)
1971 onwards Member of DPG/ver.di
1982 Head of Press and PR department at the DPG
October 1993 Became a member of the DPG Steering Committee
October 1997 Became Deputy President of the DPG
18.03.2001 Became Deputy President of the Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft “ver.di“
28.05.2002 Elected President of the DGB
10.12.2004 Elected Deputy President of the ICFTU; Chair of the ICFTU Steering Committee
November 2006 Elected Deputy President of the ITUC
June 2010 Elected President of the ITUC
