On this day, 19 May 1933, Germany’s Nazi government abolished collective bargaining &ndash
On this day, 19 May 1933, Germany’s Nazi government abolished collective bargaining – the principal of workers together negotiating with employers over pay and conditions. Instead, conditions were to be regulated by labour “trustees”, appointed by Hitler. The following year the system was refined to designate owners of individual enterprises as local “fuehrers”, with complete control of workplaces and ability to “make decisions for employees and labourers in all matters concerning the enterprise”. In 1935, the Nazis introduced compulsory labour service for 18-25-year-olds, militarily conscripting young workers into employment. Workers were banned from changing jobs without permission, and maximum working hours were increased from 60 to 72 hours per week while workplace illnesses rocketed. It was just one of many ways the Nazi regime benefited big business, and helped keep workers’ wages low, with the US government stating that “It was by such bait that the great German industrialists were induced to support the Nazi cause”. Some working class young people rejected Nazism and instead formed gangs called Edelweiss Pirates. Learn about them in our podcast episode 4: https://workingclasshistory.com/2018/04/04/wch4-anti-nazi-youth-movements-in-world-war-ii/ Pictured: Nazi labour conscripts https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/1991045094413964/?type=3 -- source link