Since the ABVV's founding in 1945, the national bureau has had overall control over this socialist trade union. The bureau thus bridges the gap between the national congresses and the national committee, which set the guidelines for union policy, and the national secretariat, which handles day-to-day management. The bureau is the ABVV's most important governing body. In recent decades, the national congress has typically met only every four years, while the national committee meets at least eight times a year (previously four times). The bureau generally meets every two weeks, and even more often if necessary. In addition to the general management and implementation of the decisions of the national committee and the national congresses, the bureau also ensures the implementation of the statutes, manages funds, and draws up the salary scales and statutes for staff members. The bureau manages the allocation of tasks within the federal secretariat and also handles urgent matters not covered by the statutes.
Just like the members of the national committee and secretariat, the national congresses also elect the members of the bureau. Initially, the trade union federations provided two-thirds of the bureau members, and the ABVV regions one-third. Since 1963, there has been language parity within the bureau, and in 1982, it was decided to equalize the ratios between the professional (trade union federations) and the interprofessional (interregional) structures within the bureau. To guarantee this dual parity, the national committee appoints additional members as needed. Since 1972, parliamentarians have no longer been allowed to sit on the ABVV bureau, and in 1978, the national women's and youth representatives were given advisory seats. The bureau members are elected for the period between congresses. The majority are usually re-elected. Since the statutory congress of June 2006, the chairs of the women's bureaus of the interregional organizations have automatically served on the bureau.
The digitized sources contain a wealth of information for the study of post-war domestic and foreign policy.
The National Bureau's minutes and memos to Bureau members have been made searchable using OCR.
