Germany: Christian trade union ruled not competent to bargain

In the latest development in a long-running rivalry between mainstream and Christian trade unions, the regional Labour Court in Berlin ruled on 7 December 2009 that CGZP, a grouping of Christian unions in the temporary agency work sector, does not have competence to bargain.

The Confederation of German Trade Unions (Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund, DGB) is the main central union organisation in Germany, with its affiliates accounting for nearly 80% of all union members.