{{Short description|German trade unionist leader (1952–2025)}} {{other people}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Michael Sommer | image = Flickr - boellstiftung - Michael Sommer, Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund (DGB).jpg | birth_date = {{Birth date|1952|01|15|df=yes}} | birth_place = Büderich, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany | death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|06|30|1952|01|15|df=yes}} | death_place = Berlin, Germany | political_party = SPD }}

'''Michael Sommer''' ({{IPA|de|ˈmɪçaʔeːl ˈzɔmɐ|lang}}; 15 January 1952 – 30 June 2025) was a German trade unionist leader. He served for 12 years as the chairman of the German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB).

== Life and career == Born in Büderich, now part of Meerbusch, North Rhine-Westphalia, Sommer studied political sciences at Free University of Berlin from 1971 to 1980. His diploma thesis was on the privatization of parcel services which had formerly been part of the state post service.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gewerkschaftsgeschichte.de/biografien-55540-michael-sommer.htm | title=Michael Sommer, geb. 1952}}</ref> He was a member of the German Post Trade Union, which became part of ver.di in 2001, beginning in 1971. Sommer became a member of the Social Democratic Party in 1981.

After his final degree, Sommer worked for the trade union. He climbed the ladder in the trade union becoming chairman of ver.di on 18 March 2001. A year later, on 28 May 2002, he was elected chairman of the DGB. He served for twelve years, retiring in 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soziales/dgb-chef-reiner-hoffmann-loest-michael-sommer-ab-a-968874.html|title=Abschied von Michael Sommer: Reiner Hoffmann ist neuer DGB-Chef|date=5 May 2014|work=Der Spiegel|accessdate=20 May 2014}}</ref> In 2010, he was also elected president of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

Sommer died in Berlin on 30 June 2025, at the age of 73.<ref>{{cite web |title=Langjähriger DGB-Chef Michael Sommer gestorben |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/eilmeldung/eilmeldung-8700.html |website=tagesschau.de |access-date=30 June 2025 |language=de}}</ref>

==Other activities== * Aktion Deutschland Hilft (Germany's Relief Coalition), Member of the Board of Trustees * Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES), Deputy Chairman of the Board<ref>[https://www.fes.de/de/stiftung/organigramm-gremien/ Organizational Structure] Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES).</ref> * Volkswagen, Member of the Sustainability Council (from 2016)<ref>[http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2016/09/sustainability_council.html Volkswagen Group appoints international Sustainability Council] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002103546/http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2016/09/sustainability_council.html |date=2 October 2016}} Volkswagen, press release of 28 September 2016.</ref> * Volkswagen Foundation, Member of the Board of Trustees (from 2009)<ref>[https://www.volkswagenstiftung.de/stiftung/organisation-und-gremien/kuratorium.html Board of Trustees] Volkswagen Foundation, Hannover.</ref> * Schloss Neuhardenberg Foundation, chairman of the Board of Trustees<ref>[http://tmp.rc.ag/schlossneuhardenberg/webseite/home/service/kontakt/kuratorium.html Board of Trustees] Schloss Neuhardenberg Foundation.</ref> * KfW, Member of the supervisory board (2003–2014)<ref name="h081">{{cite web | title=KfW Geschäftsbericht | url=https://www.kfw.de/PDF/Download-Center/Finanzpublikationen/PDF-Dokumente-Berichte-etc/1_Geschäftsberichte/Geschäftsbericht_2003_D.pdf | access-date=30 June 2025}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

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==External links== * {{IMDb name| 2147737}}

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{{Chairmen of the German Confederation of Trade Unions}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sommer, Michael}} Category:1952 births Category:2025 deaths Category:German trade unionists Category:Officers Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Category:Recipients of the Order of Merit of Berlin Category:Leaders of the International Trade Union Confederation Category:People from North Rhine-Westphalia

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