Construction workers in Germany were organised in the German Union of Building Trades until 1933, when it was banned by the Nazis.
[1] The union established the Beneficial Vacation Fund for the Construction Sector, and membership grew through the post-war need for reconstruction, although there were some downward pressures on wages from exiles from East Germany moving to the West.
The union became more active under Georg Leber's leadership, from 1957, although he controversially argued that wage increases should be linked to productivity growth.
He also argued for an Advantage Equalisation Fund, whereby non-unionised construction workers would pay for training, scholarships and rest facilities, to benefit everyone in the industry.
[1] Under the leadership of Rudolf Sperner, from 1966, the union was less prominent, but despite several recessions, it increased its membership to a record peak in 1981.