Jörg Dittrich remains president of the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts

The general assembly of the Central Association of German Crafts has re-elected Jörg Dittrich as president. He will remain in office for another three years.

At the German Crafts Day in Frankfurt am Main, the general assembly of Central Association of German Crafts The German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH) has unanimously re-elected Jörg Dittrich as its president. Dittrich is a master roofer and has led the association since 2023. He will therefore also remain president of the German Chamber of Crafts and Chairman of the German Crafts Entrepreneurs' AssociationHe is also president of the Chamber of Crafts Dresden.

"I thank the entire trades organization for this great show of confidence and for their support in continuing the path we have embarked upon together in the coming years. My re-election is both a confirmation and a mandate. My goal remains to ensure the unity of the trades," Dittrich declared after the election. 

Speaking with one voice

"Because more than ever, in an increasingly fragmented society, a strong, unified voice is needed to be heard by politicians and to fight for greater entrepreneurial freedom, less bureaucracy, and fair conditions for small and medium-sized enterprises." Dittrich intends to continue advocating for this in his second term. Both self-employed master craftsmen and small businesses are facing concerns and hardships given the still weak economic situation. 

Bureaucracy must therefore be significantly reduced. Furthermore, policymakers must ensure intergenerationally fair and future-proof financing of social security systems, tax relief that benefits small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and reliable energy prices. The goal is to make costs, levies, staffing shortages, and digital requirements manageable for businesses so they can meet the challenges of the future. 

"Craftsmanship is the pulse of progress"

Dittrich: "The skilled trades are a stabilizing factor and the glue that holds our society and democracy together, supported by the outstanding voluntary commitment of hundreds of thousands of tradespeople and the resulting functioning self-governance." Voluntary work is the heart of the skilled trades, and the skilled trades are the pulse of progress. It is essential to maintain this momentum in the years to come.

"We have to tackle a lot of issues, and we have to strike a balance between being populist and clearly highlighting the concerns of the skilled trades so that real change can occur." The mood in the business community is "terribly bad." Politicians must finally ensure growth. While the federal government has passed measures, layoffs are still commonplace – especially in industry, but also in the skilled trades.

Election results of the German Crafts Association

President of ZDH, DHKT, and UDH
Jörg Dittrich, Dresden Chamber of Skilled Crafts

ZDH Vice Presidents
Chambers:
Berthold Schröder, Dortmund Chamber of Skilled Crafts
Associations:
Marcus Nachbauer, German Scaffolding Association

other members of the ZDH Executive Board
Chambers:
Carola Zarth, Berlin Chamber of Skilled Crafts
Associations:
Thomas Bürkle, Central Association of German Electrical and Information Technology Trades

ZDH Executive Board
Chambers:
Detlef Bade, Chamber of Skilled Crafts Braunschweig-Lüneburg-Stade
Michael Bissert, Chamber of Skilled Crafts for Lower Franconia
Matthias Forßbohm, Leipzig Chamber of Skilled Crafts
Susanne Haus, Frankfurt-Rhine-Main Chamber of Skilled Crafts
Axel Hochschild, Chamber of Skilled Crafts East Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Kurt Krautscheid, Koblenz Chamber of Skilled Crafts
Stefan Lobenstein, Erfurt Chamber of Skilled Crafts
Rainer Reichhold, Chamber of Skilled Crafts Stuttgart Region

Associations:
Thomas Dietrich, Federal Guild Association of the Building Cleaning Trade
Herbert Dohrmann, German Butchers' Association
Detlef Peter Grün, Central Association of the Automotive Trade
Michael Hilpert, German Association for Sanitary, Heating and Air Conditioning
Guido Müller, Federal Association for Paint, Design, and Building Protection
Uwe Nostitz, Central Association of the German Construction Industry
Alf Reuter, Federal Guild Association for Orthopedic Technology
Willi Seiger, German Metalworkers' Association

Third group:
Thomas Radermacher, Cologne Chamber of Skilled Crafts, Federal Guild Association of Carpenters and Joiners Germany

DHKT Vice Presidents
Employer:
Berthold Schröder, Dortmund Chamber of Skilled Crafts
Employees:
Joachim Noll, Koblenz Chamber of Skilled Crafts

DHKT Board
Employer:
Rainer Reichhold, Chamber of Skilled Crafts Stuttgart Region
Carola Zarth, Berlin Chamber of Skilled Crafts
Employees:
Alexander Hengst, Cologne Chamber of Skilled Crafts

UDH Vice President
Marcus Nachbauer, German Scaffolding Association

UDH Board
Dirk Bollwerk, Central Association of the German Roofing Trade
Thomas Bürkle, Central Association of German Electrical and Information Technology Trades
Thomas Dietrich, Federal Guild Association of the Building Cleaning Trade
Herbert Dohrmann, German Butchers' Association
Roland Ermer, Central Association of the German Baking Trade
Martina Gralki-Brosch, Central Association of Signs and Illuminated Advertising
Detlef Peter Grün, Central Association of the Automotive Trade
Manuela Härtelt-Dören, Central Association of the German Hairdressing Trade
Michael Hilpert, German Association for Sanitary, Heating and Air Conditioning
Roberto Kühne, German Association for Agricultural Technology
Guido Müller, Federal Association for Paint, Design, and Building Protection
Uwe Nostitz, Central Association of the German Construction Industry
Thomas Radermacher, Federal Guild Association of Carpenters and Joiners Germany
Alf Reuter, Federal Guild Association for Orthopedic Technology
Willi Seiger, German Metalworkers' Association

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