Christian Democratic Employees' Association
Encyclopedia
The Christian Democratic Employees' Association (Christlich-Demokratische Arbeitnehmerschaft) (CDA) is an association connected with the Christian Democratic Union (Germany)
with the substantive focus on "social policy". Another competing self-designation is "CDU social committee".
The Christian-Socials (Christlich-Soziale) are one of the three major groups within the CDU in addition to the Liberals and the Conservatives. Thus social committees from the Christian-social movement have emerged within the CDU.
The headquarters of the Foundation is Königswinter
in Bonn
, while there is an office in Berlin.
trade union
ists in the industrial areas of North Rhine-Westphalia
. The official establishment of the CDA was in 1946 at Kolping House in Herne, Germany
. In the early years the CDA's program concerned mainly issues such as the health and safety of workers and their conditions in the factories. Since the association adopted the Offenburger Declaration in 1967, its focus moved to wider societal issues. Priorities of the CDA today cover pension, health and family policy, in addition to labor and social policy.
Christian Democratic Union (Germany)
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum...
with the substantive focus on "social policy". Another competing self-designation is "CDU social committee".
The Christian-Socials (Christlich-Soziale) are one of the three major groups within the CDU in addition to the Liberals and the Conservatives. Thus social committees from the Christian-social movement have emerged within the CDU.
The headquarters of the Foundation is Königswinter
Königswinter
Königswinter is a town and summer resort in the Rhein-Sieg district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated on the right bank of the Rhine, opposite to Bonn, at the foot of the Siebengebirge.- Main sights :...
in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, while there is an office in Berlin.
History
The CDA was created after the Second World War, by mostly ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
ists in the industrial areas of North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
. The official establishment of the CDA was in 1946 at Kolping House in Herne, Germany
Herne, Germany
Herne is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the Ruhr area directly between the cities of Bochum and Gelsenkirchen.- History :Like most other cities in the region Herne was a tiny village until the 19th century...
. In the early years the CDA's program concerned mainly issues such as the health and safety of workers and their conditions in the factories. Since the association adopted the Offenburger Declaration in 1967, its focus moved to wider societal issues. Priorities of the CDA today cover pension, health and family policy, in addition to labor and social policy.
Internal Structure
Subsidiary bodies of the CDU social committees include its Youth movement, the Youth CDA, former Young Workers Association and the Association of Women in the CDA. The Youth CDA was founded in 1947 also in Herne. The Youth CDA is organized into 15 regional associations, all members of the CDA are up to 35 years of age are automatically a member of the Youth CDA.Chairmen
- 1947–1949 Johannes Albers
- 1949–1958 Jakob KaiserJakob KaiserJakob Kaiser was a German politician and resistance leader during World War II.Jakob Kaiser was born in the Franconian town of Hammelburg. Following in his father’s footsteps, Kaiser began a career as a bookbinder...
- 1958 Karl Arnold
- 1958–1963 Johannes Albers
- 1963–1977 Hans Katzer
- 1977–1987 Norbert BlümNorbert BlümNorbert Blüm is a German federal legislator from North Rhine-Westphalia, Chairman of the CDU there , and former minister for labor and social affairs ....
- 1987–1993 Ulf Fink
- 1993 Werner Schreiber
- 1994–2001 Rainer EppelmannRainer EppelmannRainer Eppelmann , is a German politician. Known for his opposition in the German Democratic Republic, he became Minister for Disarmament and Defense in the last cabinet. He is now a member of the CDU....
- 2001–2004 Hermann-Josef Arentz
- 2004–2005 Gerald Weiß
- Since 2005, Karl-Josef LaumannKarl-Josef LaumannKarl-Josef Laumann is a German politician, representative of the German Christian Democratic Union. Since 2005 he has been the Minister of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of North Rhine-Westphalia....