Metadata: Algemene Diamantbewerkersbond van België
Collection
- Country:
- Belgium
- Holding institution:
- FelixArchief – City archives of Antwerp
- Holding institution (official language):
- FelixArchief - Stadsarchief Antwerpen
- Postal address:
- Oude Leeuwenrui 29, 2000 Antwerpen
- Phone number:
- +32 (0)3 338 94 11
- Reference number:
- FelixArCity-Antwerp-Algemene Diamantbewerkersbond van België
- Title:
- Algemene Diamantbewerkersbond van België
- Title (official language):
- Algemene Diamantbewerkersbond van België
- Creator/accumulator:
- Algemene Diamantbewerkersbond van België
- Date(s):
- 1890/1924
- Extent:
- 17 files
- Scope and content:
- In this fonds we especially note the series of bound reports of the Bondsraad for the years 1895-1910 (nos. BA # 2352 – BA # 2358) as well as reports of the international bureau in Antwerp, dated ca. 1905-1910 (nos. BA # 2359 – BA # 2360). We also point out various other documents such as correspondence (including indexes), reports, press clippings, leaflets etc.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- The Antwerpse Diamantbewerkersbond (ADB; ‘Antwerp Diamond Workers Union’) was created in 1895, at the initiative of and with the financial support of the Algemene Nederlandse Diamantbewerkersbond (General Dutch Diamond Workers Union). The first incarnation of the union did not last long (1890-1892). Despite a short-lived split by dissident ADBers (1911-1913) and the subsequent weakening of the union, the ADB (renamed, in 1918, to Algemene Diamantbewerkersbond van België, ‘General Diamond Workers Union of Belgium’) steadily expanded. During the interwar period, the ADB was at its peak, despite communist opposition within its ranks. Around 1919, it represented 95% of the diamond workers in Antwerp. The economic boom and the fact that Antwerp had become the most important diamond centre – partly because of the return of Eastern European Jews from London and Amsterdam after the First World War – contributed to this. In addition to being a labour union in the narrow sense, the ADB also operated its own gym club, party committee, male choir, study circle, photography club, a cooperative called Adamas (1901), its own program for members suffering from tuberculosis (Zonnestraal), etc. The union was also active as a producer, with its own diamond cutting factory De Daad (from 1926). Relations with the Belgian Labour Party were never really cordial. Conflicts arose, among others, about the cooperative of the ABD, the question of apprentices, inclusion in the social democratic movement, etc. After the Second World War, the board of the ADB was accused of aligning too closely with the economic ‘New Order’ of the occupier, e.g. in the collaborationist Unie van Hand- en Geestesarbeiders. After the war the ADB joined the socialist union ABVV. From the 1950s, the ADB had to struggle for the preservation of jobs in the diamond industry. Despite the return of diamond traders to Antwerp – achieved by Huysmans, Goldmuntz et al. – the post-war years were a period of decline. The ADB first merged with the Centrale der Kleding to become the Algemene Kleding- en Diamantbewerkersbond (1993). Since the fusion with ABVV-Textiel in 1994, the union is part of ABVV-Textiel, Kleding en Diamant. (M. Vermandere, Adamastos: 100 jaar Algemene Diamantbewerkersbond van België, Gent, AMSAB, 1995.)
- Access points: locations:
- Antwerp
- Finding aids:
- The fonds is described in the search engine of the FelixArchief.
- Links to finding aids:
- http://zoeken.felixarchief.be
- Yerusha Network member:
- State Archives of Belgium
