# Confederation of Christian Trade Unions

The Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (Dutch: Algemeen Christelijk Vakverbond, or ACV; French: Confédération des syndicats chrétiens, CSC) is the largest of Belgium's three trade union federations.

## History

The federation was founded in 1904, but can trace its origins to the "Anti-Socialist Cotton Workers' Union" founded in 1886. The organisation took its current name in 1923.
Today the ACV/CSC has 22 regional federation and 16 sectoral unions, with a membership of 1.7 million (almost 16% of the total Belgian population). The president is currently Ann Vermorgen [nl] and the secretary general is Marie-Hélène Ska.

## Affiliates

The union's affiliates are:
| Union | Abbreviation | Founded |
| Christian Education Federation | COC | 1993 |
| Christian Teachers' Association | COV | 1893 |
| Construction Industry and Energy | BIE | 2010 |
| Food and Services Union | Voeding en Diensten | 1919 |
| Metea | Metea | 2009 |
| Public Services | Openbare Diensten | 1922 |
| Puls | Puls | 1934 |
| Transcom | Transcom | 2001 |
| Sporta-vsb | | |

### Former affiliates

| Union | Abbreviation | Founded | Reason not affiliated | Year | Membership (1953) |
| Christian Union of Belgian Metalworkers | CCMB | 1912 | Merged into Metea | 2009 | 60,000 |
| Christian Union of Belgian Textile and Clothing Workers | CCTKB | 1903 | Merged into Metea | 2009 | 100,000 |
| Christian Union of Building and Industry | | 1998 | Merged into BIE | 2010 | N/A |
| Christian Union of Communication and Culture | CVCC | 1919 | Merged into Transcom | 2001 | 26,800 |
| Christian Union of Diamond Workers | | | Merged into VD | 1983 | 6,000 |
| Christian Union of Energy, Chemical and Leather Industries | CCECL | 1912 | Merged into CMECL | 1988 | 8,000 |
| Christian Union Federation of Teachers | COV | 1990 | Merged into COC | 1993 | 26,125 |
| Christian Union of Mining, Energy, Chemicals and Leather | CMECL | 1988 | Merged into BIE | 2010 | N/A |
| Christian Union of Printing and Paper Enterprises | CGP | 1905 | Merged into CCDI | 1988 | 7,417 |
| Christian Union of Staff in Free Secondary and Primary Education | CPVD | 1949 | Dissolved | 1990 | |
| Christian Union of Staff in Technical Colleges | CCOD | 1919 | Dissolved | 1990 | 2,650 |
| Christian Union of Staff in Technical Colleges - Flemish | CCPTO | 1990 | Merged into COC | 1993 | N/A |
| Christian Union of Transport Workers | CCV | 1906 | Merged into VD | 1983 | 23,100 |
| Christian Union of Transport and Diamond Workers | VD | 1983 | Merged into Transcom | 2001 | N/A |
| Christian Union of Various Industries | CCDI | 1988 | Merged into Building and Industry | 1998 | N/A |
| Christian Union of Woodworkers and Building Workers | CHB | 1921 | Merged into Building and Industry | 1998 | 108,000 |
| Christian Workers' Union in Stone, Cement, Ceramics, and Glass Production | CSCCG | 1910 | Merged into CCDI | 1988 | 1,200 |
| National Union of Employees | CNE | 1980 | | | 43,474 |
| National Union of Flemish Employees | LBC | 1980 | | | |
| Union of Free Miners | CMV | 1906 | Merged into CMECL | 1988 | 11,545 |

## Leadership
### Presidents

    1912: Gustaaf Eylenbosch
    1914: Hendrik Heyman
    1919: René Debruyne
    1921: Evarist Van Quaquebeke
    1923: René Debruyne
    1932: Henri Pauwels
    1946: August Cool
    1968: Jef Houthuys
    1987: Willy Peirens
    1999: Luc Cortebeeck [nl]
    2012: Marc Leemans [nl]

### General Secretaries

    1912: Georges Rutten
    1919: Evarist Van Quaquebeke
    1921: Henri Pauwels
    1932: August Cool
    1946: Louis Dereau
    1973: Robert D'Hondt
    1991: Josly Piette
    2006: Claude Rolin
    2014: Marie-Hélène Ska