# Michael Sommer

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{{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](/source/Meerbusch), North Rhine-Westphalia, [West Germany](/source/West_Germany)
| death_date      = {{Death date and age|2025|06|30|1952|01|15|df=yes}}
| death_place     = [Berlin](/source/Berlin), Germany
| political_party = [SPD](/source/Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany)
}}

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

== Life and career ==
Born in [Büderich](/source/B%C3%BCderich_(Meerbusch)), now part of [Meerbusch](/source/Meerbusch), North Rhine-Westphalia, Sommer studied [political sciences](/source/political_sciences) at [Free University of Berlin](/source/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](/source/German_Post_Trade_Union), which became part of [ver.di](/source/ver.di) in 2001, beginning in 1971. Sommer became a member of the [Social Democratic Party](/source/Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany) 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](/source/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](/source/Aktion_Deutschland_Hilft) (Germany's Relief Coalition), Member of the Board of Trustees
* [Friedrich Ebert Foundation](/source/Friedrich_Ebert_Foundation) (FES), Deputy Chairman of the Board<ref>[https://www.fes.de/de/stiftung/organigramm-gremien/ Organizational Structure] [Friedrich Ebert Foundation](/source/Friedrich_Ebert_Foundation) (FES).</ref>
* [Volkswagen](/source/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](/source/Volkswagen), press release of 28 September 2016.</ref>
* [Volkswagen Foundation](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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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{{succession box|title=President of the [International Trade Union Confederation](/source/International_Trade_Union_Confederation)|years=2010&ndash;2014|before=[Sharan Burrow](/source/Sharan_Burrow)|after=[João Antonio Felicio](/source/Jo%C3%A3o_Antonio_Felicio)}}
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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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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Michael Sommer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Sommer) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Sommer?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.