Hermann Leuenberger (15 July 1901 – 30 December 1975) was a

Swiss Swiss most commonly refers to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland * Swiss people Swiss may also refer to: Places * Swiss, Missouri * Swiss, North Carolina * Swiss, West Virginia * Swiss, Wisconsin Other uses * Swiss Café, an old café located ...

trade union leader and politician. Born in

Basel Basel ( ; ), also known as Basle ( ), ; ; ; . is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine (at the transition from the High Rhine, High to the Upper Rhine). Basel is Switzerland's List of cities in Switzerland, third-most-populo ...

, Leuenberger started an apprenticeship as a painter, but became active in the

Social Democratic Party of Switzerland The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland (, SP; ), also called the Swiss Socialist Party (; , PS), is a List of political parties in Switzerland, political party in Switzerland. The SP has had two representatives on the Federal Council (Switzerl ...

(SP) and the trade union movement. He was particularly inspired by the

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, and spent time in 1920 and 1921 in the

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. He then returned to Basel, to work as a labourer, while holding membership of the Union of Commerce, Transport and Food (VHTL). In 1924 and 1925, Leuenberger undertook labour movement training in

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, then returned once more to Basel, where he worked as a

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. In 1929, he began working full-time for the VHTL, as a secretary, becoming central secretary in 1933, and then central president in 1941. From 1939 until 1948, he also served as president and acting general secretary of the

International Union of Food and Allied Workers' Associations The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF) is a global union federation of trade unions with members in a variety of industries, many of which relate to food processi ...

. Leuenberger also remained active in the SP, winning election as a councillor in Zurich in 1935. In 1939, he was elected to the

Swiss Federal Assembly The Federal Assembly, also known as the Swiss Parliament, is the federal bicameral parliament of Switzerland. It comprises the 200-seat National Council and the 46-seat Council of States. It meets in Bern in the Federal Palace. The house ...

, representing the Canton of Zürich, serving until 1971. From 1954 until 1969, he was also a member of the SP's management committee. He additionally founded the Foundation for Consumer Protection, and campaigned for consumer rights and equality for women. In 1937, Leuenberger was elected to the executive of the

Swiss Trade Union Federation The Swiss Trade Union Federation (, SGB; ; , USS) is the largest national trade union center in Switzerland. History The federation was founded in 1880. The SGB has close ties with the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland (SPS). Ruth Dreifuss ...

(SGB), becoming its vice president in 1943, and president in 1958, retiring in 1968. He argued in favour of all its affiliates merging to become a single union, but this did not find significant support.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leuenberger, Hermann 1901 births 1975 deaths Members of the Federal Assembly (Switzerland) Politicians from Basel-Stadt Social Democratic Party of Switzerland politicians Swiss trade unionists