Dr. Sascha Kristin Futh

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With her comparative study Sascha Kristin Futh supplies a source based contribution to the communicative ability to act of trade unions with respect to three of the most famous trade union campaigns in the history of the German federal republic. She analyzes the campaigns "Saturday daddy belongs to me" (1955ff.), "35-hour week" (1983/84) and "minimum wage" (2007ff.). The core of the dissertation focuses on motifs, structures, developments, resources and effects of trade union campaigns. The dissertation is based on two central questions:

 

  1. Under which conditions and with which instruments do trade unions influence through campaign communication?
  2. Which factors are central for the campaigning capacity of trade unions?

In order to analyze these questions, the central research literature was evaluated and a document analysis of trade union publications and materials with regard to the individual campaigns was carried out. These were supplemented by expert interviews with respect to the campaigns "35-hour-week" (35-Stunden-Woche) and "minimum wage" (Mindestlohn).

The definitory basis of the dissertation is a campaigning understanding based on the relevant literature. It was advanced for and within the dissertation itself. In addition, a conceptual understanding is developed, which shows the connection between the form of communication and the communication instrument. In this sense the reference between purpose, addressees and contexts for the organization and effectiveness of the campaign is analyzed. Four analytical dimensions are used: 1) framework conditions, 2) goals, 3) actors and 4) implementation.

On the base of the empirical analysis of trade union communication work (DGB, IG Metall and ÖTV respectively ver.di) the three campaigns and their effects are compared. The linking of campaigns and collective bargaining is a success factor for trade unions to achieve social and political change. In all three campaigns, the trade unions mobilized their members and their goals addressed a large section of society. This support was then used in order to increase the effects the trade unions had on their own activities. The analysis shows that the campaigns had a positive effect on the membership development. The support of the population was crucial for the trade unions in order to achieve their goals with respect to the parties and the government. At the same time, the dissertation finally underpins the importance of the organizations themselves in order for trade unions ability to act and for their overall success.

Sascha Kristin Futh's comparative study of three of the most important trade union campaigns in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany provides a source-based contribution to the unions' communicative ability to act. She analyzes the campaigns "Saturdays belong to Daddy" (1955ff.), "35-hour week" (1983/84) and "Minimum wage" (2007ff.). In essence, it is about the motives, structures, developments, resources and effects of trade union campaigns, focusing on two central questions:

  1. Under what conditions and by what means do trade unions exert their influence via campaign communication?
  2. Which factors are decisive for trade union campaigning ability?

In order to investigate these questions, a document analysis of trade union publications and materials on the individual campaigns was carried out in addition to an evaluation of the central literature. This procedure was flanked by expert interviews on the "35-hour week" and "minimum wage" campaigns.

The definitional basis of the dissertation is an understanding of campaigns that was further developed for and through the dissertation based on the academic literature. In addition, a concept is developed that reflects the connection between the form of communication and the means of communication. In this sense, the connection between purpose, addressees and contexts for campaign organization and effectiveness is analyzed. Four analytical dimensions are used for this purpose: 1) framework conditions, 2) objectives, 3) actors and 4) implementation.

Based on the empirical analysis of trade union communication work (DGB, IG Metall and ÖTV or ver.di), the three campaigns and their effects are compared with each other. It is shown that the linking of campaigns and collective bargaining is a success factor for trade unions in order to achieve social and political change. In all three campaigns, the trade unions not only mobilized their own membership, but also appealed to broad sections of society with their goals and tried to increase the impact of their own activities with their support. It is shown that the campaigns had a positive effect on membership development. A key finding of the dissertation is that the support of the population was decisive in achieving the goals they set themselves vis-à-vis the parties and the government. At the same time, this dissertation provided clear evidence that the structure of the respective campaign apparatus is a decisive factor for the trade union's ability to act and succeed.

Summary of the dissertation: Communication work of trade unions: An analysis of the campaigns "Saturdays belong to Daddy", "35-hour week" and "Minimum wage"

Sascha Kristin Futh works as a trade union secretary at IG Metall in the board administration in Frankfurt am Main.

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As I worked as a freelancer for a local print medium during my studies, I discovered my interest in investigating the relationship between political actors and the media at an early stage. I was not only able to experience this in my practical work, but was also able to expand it through my focus on the field of political communication in Germany with scientifically sound findings. In my Bachelor's thesis, I already dealt with the coverage of the 2009 Hessian state elections. I also continued my interest in the influence of the media on elections in my Master's thesis, in which I dealt with the influence of state-specific media on elections.

Tutoring activities in the subject areas "Applied Statistics" and "Political System of the Federal Republic of Germany - Statehood in Transition" finally enabled me to deal with the VdK social association as part of a project. Following this project, I was employed as a research assistant in the department "Political System of the Federal Republic of Germany - Statehood in Transition". I am now pursuing my interest in the consequences of an increasingly mediatized society by looking at the challenges this poses for trade unions.

Publications

Curriculum vitae

Since March 2012

Research assistant at the department "Political System of the FRG - Statehood in Transition", Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schroeder

October 2011 - February 2012

Research assistant at the department "Political System of the FRG - Statehood in Transition", Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schroeder, represented by PD Dr. Rudolf Speth

January 2012

Obtained the academic degree "Master of Arts", Master's thesis: "Country-specific media and elections"

October 2010 - February 2012

Student assistant at the department "Political System of the FRG - Statehood in Transition", Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schroeder, represented by PD Dr. Rudolf Speth

October 2009 - September 2011

Master's degree in Political Science at the University of Kassel

October 2008 - September 2010

Student assistant at the department "Applied Statistics", Dr. Manuela Pötschke

October 2007 - February 2012

Freelancer in the local editorial office of the Hessische/Niedersächsische Allgemeine, Witzenhausen

October 2006 - September 2009

Bachelor's degree in Political Science with a minor in Sociology at the University of Kassel

2003 - 2006

Secondary school at the Freiherr-vom-Stein School, Hessisch Lichtenau, graduation: Abitur