The Wismut Industrial Union (, IG W) was a trade union representing workers at the Wismut uranium mining company. From 1946, workers at Wismut were represented by the Industrial Union of Mining, part of the Free German Trade Union Federation (FDGB). However, due to the secretive nature of the work they undertook, under the control of the Soviet Union, they were placed in an autonomous section. In 1950, the FDGB decided to move the workers into their own dedicated union, the "Wismut Industrial Union". It was based in Karl-Marx-Stadt, and led sports associations such as SC Karl-Marx-Stadt, and also the popular orchestra, Orchester der IG Wismut. Membership of the union gradually declined, along with employment by the company, and by 1989, it had 65,555 members. In March 1990, it became independent, and it dissolved in October, its members transferring to the Union of Mining and Energy. Presidents 1950: Richard Leppi 1951: Heinz Raeder 1952: Werner Lucas 1955: Heinz Schönfeld 1966: Herbert Strienitz 1985: Gotthard Stark 1990: Dieter May References Mining trade unions Trade unions established in 1946 Trade unions disestablished in 1990 Trade unions in East Germany