New technologies have made radical changes in the way work is done. This development has passed by German trade unions anchored traditionally among workers in industrial production and stuck in the old model of the full-time employee with a predictable career and a job for life. Consequently, between 1991-98, about 3 million out of the former 11 million members of German trade unions turned their backs on them. Lack of content, financial losses, and changed general economic conditions has ushered in a consolidation process among trade unions. Several mergers have reduced the 16 unions under the umbrella of the German Trade Union Federation (DGB) to 12, but the decline in union membership has continued. The biggest merger of five trade unions to form the United Services Trade Union (ver.di) is imminent. Its champions say ver.di will take account of changed economic and social general conditions in terms of both content and structure and hope it will attract members from the information technology industry, in which unions have so far been unable to gain a foothold. Young trade union officials and members are following the ver.di merger process with skepticism. They see the merger as a chance to renew the unions but question the ability to change the old hierarchies, decision-making structures, and positions. An image campaign is targeting young people and workers in branches of the future to tell them trade unions are the way of the future. (Fifteen Internet links are listed.) (YLB)