Vocational training center of the DGB: David M., works council and ver.di list leader in Leipzig, defends himself against his dismissal without notice

“…That's the sore point - and the reason why I'm politicizing my case. The chairman of the supervisory board is DGB deputy Stefan Körzell. The DGB calls for strong works councils and good work. This must then also apply in your own company. There are certainly business areas at bfw in which collaboration works better. But here in the East there were significant conflicts. If employees experience that critical advocacy becomes a risk, no one should be surprised at their distrust. Added to this is the pressure in the entire training industry. The sponsors move from tender to tender. The price competition is carried out on the backs of the employees (…) My goal is reinstatement, of course. I want to be a strong advocate and continue in this job too…" From theInterview by Niki Uhlmann in the young world from October 26th, 2026 (“Works council fired: “My goal is to be reinstated”) – see more about it and this:

• No comparison, no withdrawal. Leipzig: DGB vocational training center rejects settlement proposal by works council member David M., who was dismissed without notice, in court 
  “There is no agreement between David M. and his former “employer”, the Berufsfurbildungswerk (BFW) – a non-profit GmbH of the German Federation of Trade Unions. At the conciliation hearing at the Leipzig Labor Court on Tuesday, both sides presented their positions on David M.'s dismissal without notice. After his dismissal on September 15th, he filed a lawsuit for protection against dismissal.
  Around 15 supporters from the dismissal's environment showed solidarity and accompanied him and his lawyer Lukas Münch to the conciliation hearing. Not everyone was given a seat in the courtroom. Those who could not sit were ordered by the judge to wait outside. M. worked as a social worker in the rehabilitation of prisoners from 2022 until his dismissal in September and was involved as a works councilor and trade unionist in the Verdi collective bargaining committee. (…)
  Ralf Krawetzke, head of human resources management at the BFW, justified the dismissal before the labor court: According to the BFW, the immediate dismissal was justified by the fact that David M. had committed expense fraud and then allegedly tried to cover it up by asking a colleague to lie about the matter on his behalf. According to Krawetzke, the works council agreed to the termination; There was also talk of a “loss of trust” in David M.
  Lukas Münch, David M.'s lawyer, counters the BFW's allegations that "fictitious billing" for train tickets has been known and tolerated in the company for years, among other things to simplify accounting processes. M.'s defense had several emails as evidence of this. Münch therefore considers the step of dismissal without notice as a “last resort” to be disproportionate, also in view of the fact that there have been no warnings against David M. since the beginning of the employment relationship.
  When asked by the judge whether the parties would be willing to reach an agreement, Münch explained that he and his client were demanding that the extraordinary termination be withdrawn. Instead, they are prepared to accept a warning without admitting guilt. Ralf Krawetzke, on the other hand, made it clear in brief words that neither the demand of David M. and his lawyer nor any other form of agreement was out of the question for the BFW. Since no agreement was reached due to the strong differences between David M. and his former “employer,” the judge set a hearing date for April 23, 2027…”Article by Amelie E. Höcker, Leipzig, in the Junge Welt from October 28, 2026 
• Works council fired: “My goal is to be reinstated”
  “DGB vocational training center: A works council defends itself against his dismissal. [This year you were elected to the works council of the DGB's vocational training center, bfw, and were fired a short time later. Why?]
  There is no reason in the letter of termination. I will not comment publicly on the allegations before the trial. But the procedure speaks for itself: the termination came on the second day of my annual vacation. It was known for a long time that I would be in China for four weeks and difficult to reach. Since I had already smelled the roast, I organized legal protection in good time and asked a colleague to check my mail.
  [If you were able to foresee the termination, there must have been previous conflicts.]
  I am a critical and political person. I have been a member of the Verdi tariff commission since 2024. This year I and others put together the “Verdi for Transparency, Democracy and Co-Determination” list for the works council election and was also elected as list leader. There were already heated arguments during the election campaign. There was sentiment against our list. We had to fight for our election campaign, all the way up to the management.
  After the election things continued. We wanted more involvement of the works council in job interviews, rights to information and more transparent decisions. (…)
  And then the works council work itself: I was supposed to look after my clients as before, but I didn't get sufficient relief or representation. I resocialize prisoners. This work cannot simply be left aside. Instead, I was encouraged to give up my volunteer positions in prison and at work. I see this as a massive devaluation and disregard for interest representation and committee work.
  At some point I was considered an agitator. I worked at bfw for four and a half years and there was not one complaint. As soon as I was elected, I was dismissed without notice. Without prior warning! The court will also have to examine this. My position was already advertised internally.
  [It doesn't sound like the DGB is applying its principles in the bfw.]
  That's the sore point - and the reason why I'm politicizing my case. The chairman of the supervisory board is DGB deputy Stefan Körzell. The DGB calls for strong works councils and good work. This must then also apply in your own company. There are certainly business areas at bfw in which collaboration works better. But here in the East there were significant conflicts. If employees experience that critical advocacy becomes a risk, no one should be surprised at their distrust. Added to this is the pressure in the entire training industry. The sponsors move from tender to tender. The price competition is carried out on the backs of the employees (…)
  My goal is reinstatement, of course. I want to be a strong advocate and continue in this job too. Hopefully the public will get some pressure. As a critical works councilor and trade unionist, I won't let myself be defeated so easily. I also advise everyone else: Organize yourself in the union and create change from below!“Interview by Niki Uhlmann in the young world from October 26th, 2026 

See from 2014:bfw: Family dispute over educational institutionsand the dossier from 2013:Weitblick-personalpartner GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of the DGB vocational training center bfw: DGB as a slave trader

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