The General Works Council of Deutsche Bahn has issued a strong rebuke of Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) and the German government, coinciding with the imminent unveiling of the company’s new strategy. A communication to employees, reported by “Handelsblatt”, reveals that Works Council Chairwoman Heike Moll criticized Schnieder for allegedly creating “additional unrest” within the organization through the premature termination of CEO Richard Lutz’s contract.
The Council highlighted what they perceive as a contradiction in Schnieder’s approach: initially stating that the strategy would precede personnel decisions, then subsequently ending Lutz’s tenure ahead of schedule. Moll further added that the federal government’s stance on infrastructure financing mirrors this inconsistency, acknowledging the need for investment while seemingly hesitant to provide full funding.
The Works Council is urging the federal government to ensure the stability of Deutsche Bahn and fulfill its responsibilities. They emphasized the need for a management board capable of clearly communicating to the company’s owner that improved quality and increased ridership are contingent upon sufficient financial resources.
This criticism arrives just days before the scheduled presentation of the new Bahn strategy slated for Monday in Berlin. While Schnieder is set to present the plan, the appointment of a successor for Lutz remains uncertain. Sources within both Deutsche Bahn and the Ministry of Transport indicate that identifying a replacement in time for the strategy release has proven challenging. Consequently, Richard Lutz will remain in his position in the interim.
