Industrial trade union with around 570,000 members for employees in the chemical, energy and mining industries.

IG Bergbau, Chemie, Energie

Hanover · Bad Münder · Haltern am See · Grünheide (Mark)New on Amplifa

1997Founded

around 570,000Members

4Locations (headquarters and 3 education centers)

1,000 local groups, 700 trust bodiesOrganizational structure

About the IGBCE

The IG Bergbau, Chemie, Energie (IGBCE) is one of Germany's largest trade unions with around 570,000 members. It represents the interests of employees in industries with more than one million employees, including mining, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, energy, glass, rubber, ceramics, plastics, leather, footwear and sporting goods, mineral oil, pulp and paper production as well as remediation and waste disposal. The IGBCE was formed in 1997 through the merger of IG Bergbau und Energie, IG Chemie-Papier-Keramik and Gewerkschaft Leder. Its services include collective bargaining, labor and social law protection, education and further training programs via the Kompetenzzentrum Bildung (KomBi) and IGBCE BWS, training courses for works councils, and strike support. The organization is structured nationwide into around 1,000 local groups, 700 trust bodies, 40 districts and seven state districts. Headquarters and main administration are located at Königsworther Platz 6 in Hanover; education centers exist in Bad Münder, Haltern am See and Grünheide (Mark).

Site: Hanover
Processes: Collective bargaining, Legal protection (labor and social law), Education and further training (Kompetenzzentrum Bildung, BWS), Works council, youth and trainee representation training courses, Member bonus (Bonusagentur, Prämienwelt), Strike support, Transformation consulting (Kompetenznetz Transformationsberatung GmbH)
Founded: 1997
Employees: 570000
Industries: Mining, Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals, Energy, Glass industry, Rubber industry, Ceramics industry

Locations

Hanover

Headquarters and main administration (Königsworther Platz 6)

Bad Münder

Education center

Haltern am See

Education center (Adolf-Schmidt conference center)

Grünheide (Mark)

Education center / Kagel-Möllenhorst youth education center

Inside the production

Profil Bildung – the IGBCE education magazine

8th Ordinary Trade Union Congress 2025 in Hanover under the motto "Do

Industries

MiningChemicals and PharmaceuticalsEnergyGlass industryRubber industryCeramics industryPlastics industryLeather, footwear, sporting goodsMineral oilPulp and paper productionRemediation and waste disposalGlassRubberCeramicsPlastics

Additional services

Collective bargainingLegal protection (labor and social law)Education and further training (Kompetenzzentrum Bildung, BWS)Works council, youth and trainee representation training coursesMember bonus (Bonusagentur, Prämienwelt)Strike supportTransformation consulting (Kompetenznetz Transformationsberatung GmbH)

History

1997
Founding of the IGBCE in Hanover through the merger of IG Bergbau und Energie, IG Chemie-Papier-Keramik and Gewerkschaft Leder
2009
Michael Vassiliadis succeeds Hubertus Schmoldt as chairman
2023
Reshuffle of the executive main board: Birgit Biermann becomes deputy chairwoman; Oliver Heinrich and Alexander Bercht join
2025
8th Ordinary Trade Union Congress from 19 to 24 October in Hanover under the motto "Doing the right thing! Clear. Strong. Solidary."; the main board under Vassiliadis is confirmed