WHO WE ARE
Tenants’ unions exist throughout Europe and the idea has also been discussed in the tenants’ movement in Berlin for some time. At the end of 2019, individual activists from the Mietenwahnsinn alliance came together to take a practical approach to this idea. In September 2020, we officially founded the Tenants’ Union Berlin.
We ourselves are tenants of this city and know the numerous problems: from the lack of affordable housing to rent increases and evictions. In order to counter the perceived powerlessness and the conditions on the housing market, we want to build a strong tenant organization. Together we stand up for the collective interests of tenants as a young grassroots democratic union.
In our first fights against the real estate company Heimstaden, the dubious property management Blaczko, in the Kieztreffen Pankow and in other places we could already achieve some common successes. At the same time, we are pushing ahead with the building of the union in order to really be able to change something in the long term. Together we are strong.
From the idea to the union
While tenants’ unions have already been successfully founded in other countries and have existed for a long time in some cases, the idea is rather unknown in Germany. But with the founding of a tenants’ union in Frankfurt am Main last year and the initiatives that are springing up in many places, the concept is beginning to become popular here as well.
Comparable projects in other countries and cities speak a clear language: The Swedish tenants’ union Hyresgästföreningen has existed for over 100 years (!), represents over 500,000 households and negotiates collectively agreed rents with owners and politicians. Over the decades, the union has fought for the collective negotiation of rental agreements. But also tenants in other countries are beginning to organize successfully in unions, such as the Sindicat de Llogateres in Spain (2017) or the London Renters Union in England (2018).
Gewerkschaft ist nicht gleich Gewerkschaft. […] Wir wollen eine pluralistische, unabhängige Mieter*innengewerkschaft sein, die so vielfältig ist wie die Mieter*innenbewegung selbst. Selfunderstanding of the MGB, 2020
STRUCTURE OF THE MGB
HOW WE WORK
We see ourselves as a grassroots democratic and independent trade union (under construction). The most important decisions are made at our monthly general meeting. Most of the work, however, takes place in the working groups, in which we all work on a voluntary basis. Currently, the following working groups form the hands of our union:
- AG Organizing
- AG Law
- AG Public Relations
- AG Statues
- AG Member Management
- AG FLINTA*
- AG Collective Handling
- AG IT
For this purpose, we have various networking groups that are active in struggles.
OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MGB
HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE
You find our concept of a tenants’ union exciting? You want to get involved in the fight against overpowering landlords? Then we are very happy about you – become a member of the MGB! Whether you want to support us on an irregular basis, e.g. at neighborhood meetings or rallies, or regularly participate in a working group or a network – we have something for everyone.