Frankfurt am Main – Two companies in the IG Metall area have won the German Works Council Prize 2023: The works council of ZF Friedrichshafen AG in Ahrweiler saved the existence of the entire plant and the employees there after the flood in 2021. And the works council of ArianeGroup GmbH in Bremen saved the health of employees with an early warning system against overload. Ralf Reinstädtler, managing board member of IG Metall, said: “You don’t need superpowers to be a real hero in the world of work. Commitment as a works council is often enough.”
The case of ZF-Friedrichshafen in Ahrweiler: masses of water also destroyed the automotive supplier’s production hall in the devastating flood disaster on July 14, 2021 in the Ahr Valley. The big shock is followed by the bad news from the company management: They do not want to rebuild the plant and the jobs on site, but rather relocate them to Koblenz. The works council protests, organizes solidarity through the general works council, politicians and the public – and finds a suitable plot of land nearby for a new building through an agreement with the company. The future is now secured for the employees in the new Brohltal plant – also in terms of personnel: the works council is demanding that ZF Friedrichshafen secure employment until 2026. For this success he will receive the German Works Council Prize 2023 in silver. IG Metall board member Ralf Reinstädtler: “Works councils are characterized by their ability to create a future out of seemingly hopeless situations.”
The case of ArianeGroup GmbH in Bremen: At the turn of the year 2021/2022, an excessive work volume is met by a thin staffing level at the rocket manufacturer. The ArianeGroup employees at the Bremen site can no longer cope with the workload. This is the reason for the works council to enforce forward-looking and low-threshold rules in the company: an innovative works agreement, according to which employees and managers can discuss impending overloads openly, early and in a protected manner in a step-by-step model. The goal is to avoid psychological and physical stress and to receive support from the company. Ralf Reinstädtler: “Good work requires committed works council work: employees depend on first-class occupational health and safety. Everyone benefits from this.” For this, the ArianeGroup Bremen works council will receive the special “Good Work” 2023 award from the German Works Council Prize.
Background to the Works Council Prize: The “German Works Council Prize” is an initiative of the renowned specialist magazine “Labor Law in Companies”. Since 2009, it has been honoring the commitment and successful work of works councils that are committed to maintaining or creating jobs, improving working conditions or overcoming crises in companies. Every year, a top-class jury made up of trade unionists, scientists and proven practitioners makes a selection from a consistently high number of submitted projects.
More than 1,000 committees have applied for the German Works Council Award since the first call for proposals. Public attention and recognition for exemplary advocacy – regardless of industry, company size and union affiliation – is the central idea of the nationally known award.
The award is presented once in each of the gold, silver and bronze categories. The jury also awards various special prizes.