Following the recent appointment of Evelyn Palla as the new Chairwoman of the Management Board of Deutsche Bahn, a divide has emerged between rail worker unions. The General German Trade Union (GDL) has publicly criticized the stance taken by the Transport and Services Union (EVG) regarding the selection process.
GDL Federal Chairman Mario Reiß, in comments to the Handelsblatt, stated that while his union offers the newly appointed leadership team the opportunity to demonstrate positive change, a high standard of performance will be expected. He specifically addressed the EVG’s opposition to the appointment process, particularly their vote against Palla’s selection during a supervisory board meeting.
The EVG’s concerns were primarily focused on the proposed appointment of Dirk Rompf to lead the Deutsche Bahn subsidiary, Infrago, rather than directly targeting Palla’s suitability for the top role. However, Reiß argued that using such concerns as a reason to obstruct the overall leadership transition represents a problematic signal.
“It is understandable to be critical of past, potentially misguided, reform initiatives” Reiß commented. “However, to actively undermine a potential fresh start from the outset is, in the current situation, considered dangerous”. The GDL confirmed that it supported Palla’s candidacy. The differing viewpoints highlight ongoing complexities within the rail sector and the challenges of fostering collaborative leadership transitions.
