Gewerkschaft der Postler

Gewerkschaft der Postler ('Postmens' Trade Union') was a German trade union in the First Czechoslovak Republic. The union was affiliated to the Central Commission of German Trade Unions in the Czechoslovak Republic.[1]

Stamp of the union

The union had its headquarter in Reichenberg.[2] As of June 30, 1924 the union claimed a membership of 4,420 (3,592 male, 828 female).[2] Joseph Tichak served as the chairman of the union.[3][4] The union issued a monthly publication named Gewerkschaft der Postler, edited by Paul Gottschlich.[2][5][6]

The third congress of the PTT International, held July 14-17, 1924, granted membership to the union in the international.[5]

By the mid-1920s there were mass layoffs of government employees, with a national bias. The German postal workers joined protests against the imposition of language requirements for government employees.[4] In 1935 the union resolved to combat the dismissals of German employees from the Postal and Telegraph Services.[4] Frustration had grown in the postal worker ranks over the Social Democratic government policies, and by mid-1933 the Eger branch of the union issued a call for an extraordinary union congress and disaffiliation from the Central Commission of German Trade Unions. The appeal obtained supported from 8 out of 54 local branches of the union.[4]

In 1938, as Tichak resigned from his leadership post over health issues, the union distanced itself from the Social Democrats and withdrew from the Central Commission of German Trade Unions.[4]