A trade union is not a materially tangible thing; a trade union is the idea of people joining forces and working together to improve the income and working conditions of employees. To develop such a force, people must come into contact with each other and agree on common goals and how these goals can be achieved. Or to put it more simply: trade unionism is communication and solidarity!

Students are also employees: in their future job, when working alongside their studies, in internships. Almost three quarters of students have to work alongside their studies. Whether as assistants at university, as freelancers in adult education, as short-term or permanent part-time employees - students have long been a cheap and flexible source of labour for local labour markets.

Because entry into working life today is often via internships, there is a great risk that students and young graduates will be exploited. Practical experience during studies is good and important. However, it should provide further qualifications, professional support and appropriate pay. However, the reality is different and unpaid and long internships are widespread.

Furthermore, we see trade unions as an emancipatory force in society and want to contribute to criticising existing conditions through lectures and workshops at the university and the university of applied sciences. Because the university is a place of education and training, students have to deal with the quality of research, teaching and supervision. Standing up for a good education at universities does not necessarily mean just trying to improve individual chances on the labour market. Can academic studies really be reduced to labour market-oriented specialist training? What skills and content are taught, how and why? How do students want to work, learn and live?

Trade unions offer students support (such as through Students at Work), but also many opportunities to network, get involved and further their education. Interested in getting involved in trade union or education policy? See the following sections.

A union is not a tangible thing. A union is the idea that people can join forces and improve the income and working conditions of employees. To develop such power, people need to come into contact with each other and agree on common goals and how these goals can be achieved. Or to put it more simply: a union is communication and solidarity!

Students are also employees: in their future jobs, in part-time jobs while studying, in internships. Almost three quarters of students have to work alongside their studies. Whether as assistants at the university, as freelancers in adult education, as short-term or long-term employees in marginal employment - students have long since formed a cheap and flexible labour pool for local labour markets.

Because entry into professional life today often occurs through internships, there is a high risk that students and young graduates will be exploited. Practical experience alongside studies is good and important. However, it should lead to further qualifications, professional support and appropriate pay. The reality, however, is different, and unpaid and long internships are widespread.

Furthermore, we trade unions see ourselves as an emancipatory force in society and want to contribute to the criticism of the existing conditions through lectures and workshops at the university and the university of applied sciences. Because the university is a place of education, students have to deal with the quality of research, teaching and supervision. Working to ensure good education at universities does not have to mean just trying to improve individual opportunities on the labour market. Can academic study really be reduced to labour-market-oriented vocational training? What skills and content are taught, how and why? How do students want to work, learn and live?

Trade unions offer students support (such as through Students at Work), but also many opportunities to network, get involved and further educate themselves. Interested in getting involved in trade union or educational policy? See the following sections.

The individual trade unions also offer internships to students. There is currently a call for applications from IG BAU. You can access the whole advert under this link: weser-ems.igbau.de/IG-BAU-Praktikum.html

The individual trade unions also offer internships to students. There is currently an advertisement from IG BAU. You can access the full description via this link: weser-ems.igbau.de/IG-BAU-Praktikum.html

Would you like to get involved in trade union or education policy? The DGB Youth offers many opportunities for this, but the individual member unions also always have a youth organisation. If you are interested, we can put you in direct contact with the youth secretaries of ver.di, IG Metall, GEW or IG BCE. .

The commitment can look very different, is fun and collaborative. For example, you can train as a team leader for educational policy work, simply discuss issues with other trade unionists over a beer and pizza, help with Rock gegen Rechts, report on trade union work at information stands, set up an interest group in your company or advise and support other employees in their struggles.

So there are many ways to get involved. Interested? Take with us or the DGB Youth Secretary . We will be happy to inform you and look forward to hearing your ideas.

Do you want to get involved in trade union or educational policy? The DGB Youth offers many opportunities for this, but the individual member unions also always have a youth organisation. If you are interested, we will put you in direct contact with the youth secretaries of ver.di, IG Metall, GEW or IG BCE; just send us an .

The commitment can take many forms, is fun and collaborative. For example, you can train as a team leader for educational policy work, simply discuss with other union members over beer and pizza, help with Rock gegen Rechts, report on union work at information stands, set up a representation of interests in your company or advise and support other employees in their struggles.

There are many ways to get involved. Interested? Get in us or the DGB Youth Secretary. We are happy to provide you with information and look forward to your ideas.

Interested in political education? Become a team member of the DGBJugend! Are you interested in trade union, racism-critical and/or gender-reflective youth education work? Then you can find all the information from DGB Youth here: Application to become a team leader

DGB Youth also offers numerous educational and qualification seminars as well as educational trips. Current seminars and all information can be found here: DGB Bildungswerk (nationwide) and DGB Bildungswerk Niedersachsen/Bremen/Sachsen-Anhalt (for the district).

Do you want to do political education work? Become a team leader for the DGB Youth! Are you interested in trade union, anti-racist and/or gender-reflective youth education work? Then you can find all the information about the DGB Youth here: Call for applications Become a team leader

The DGB Youth also offers numerous educational and qualification seminars, as well as educational trips. You can find current seminars and all information here: DGB Bildungswerk (nationwide) and DGB Bildungswerk Niedersachsen/Bremen/Sachsen-Anhalt (for the district).

Anyone can become a member of a trade union. No special requirements are necessary to join. You can also join a trade union as a student. The DGB member unions are divided into "trades", i.e. occupational groups and sectors, and it makes sense to join the union that represents your occupational group. However, this is not a mandatory requirement; you are allowed to join any trade union, regardless of your academic appointment.

Almost all DGB trade unions offer students a reduced membership fee of around 2.50 euros per month. This is very favourable. If you are a member of a trade union, you have the opportunity to network with others there, you can take part in training courses and seminars free of charge, you will receive support and networking if, for example, you want to set up a works council or take industrial action in your company. You will also receive information on industrial disputes and conditions in your occupational group and assistance with labour law problems in various forms (information material, legal protection insurance, etc.). Interested? The links lead to the individual DGB trade unions that co-operate with us. You can also send us an email and we will put you in direct contact. We do not have such close contact with the other DGB member unions, but we can put you in touch if you are in doubt.

• ver.di (United Services Union)
• IG Metall (Metalworkers' Industrial Union)
• GEW (Trade Union for Education and Science)
• IG BCE (Mining, Chemical and Energy Industrial Union)
• IG BAU (Industrial Union for Construction, Agriculture and the Environment)

Anyone can become a member of a trade union. There are no special requirements for joining. You can also join a trade union as a student. The DGB member trade unions are divided into "trades", i.e. occupational groups and sectors, and it makes sense to join the union that represents your occupational group. However, this is not a mandatory requirement; you are allowed to join any union, regardless of your occupation.

Almost all DGB trade unions offer students a reduced membership fee of around 2.50 euros per month. This is very affordable. If you are a member of a trade union, you have the opportunity to network with others there, you can take part in further training and seminars free of charge, and you will receive support and networking if, for example, you want to set up a works council or lead a labour dispute in your company. You will also receive information on the industrial disputes and working conditions in your occupational group and assistance with labour law issues in various forms (information material, legal expenses insurance, etc.). Interested? The links lead to the individual DGB trade unions that work with us. You can also write us an email and we will put you in touch directly. We don't have such close contact with the other DGB member unions, but we can put you in touch if necessary.

Fancy joining a university group? If you would like to get involved in trade union politics at your university or university of applied sciences, send us an .

Interested in a university group? If you are interested in getting involved in trade union politics at a university or technical colleges, send us an .

Student assistants (SHKs) are one of the main pillars of academic operations. In most Federal States, only statutory minimum standards apply to the work of SHKs, while other employees at universities and colleges are covered by the Collective Labour Agreement of the Federal States (TVL).

Collective agreements are a democratic means for employees to have a say in and negotiate their demands regarding pay, working hours, holidays, bonuses and other working conditions. Collective agreements mean more security and better working conditions, fairness and transparency!

No exception! In favour of improving the working conditions of student employees. (Nationwide petition)

This is why the TV Stud Initiative is calling for collective agreements for student assistants nationwide. You can find more information and the petition at tvstud.de.

Student research assistants are one of the main pillars of scientific work. In most federal states, only the legal minimum standards apply to the work of student research assistants, while other employees at universities and colleges are covered by the collective agreement of the federal states (TVL).

Collective agreements are a democratic means for employees to have a say in and negotiate their demands regarding wages, working hours, vacation, bonuses and other working conditions. Collective agreements mean more security and better working conditions, justice and transparency!

No exception! For the improvement of working conditions for student employees. (Nationwide petition)

The TV Stud Initiative is therefore calling for collective agreements for student assistants nationwide. You can find more information and the petition at tvstud.de.