As a sign of triumph and joy is interpreted in the palm, since ancient times. Jesus was supposedly located at the time of his entry into Jerusalem with palm fronds, the Greeks showed the goddess of victory Nike or associated with the Phoenix, the reborn. For the Frankfurt Karstadt-employees in your palm is at best a vague hope that it goes even further. In a room palm tree, they hung hundreds of pieces of paper, on each the name of one of the total of 440 employees of the Department store and their respective years of service: Sabine S., 30 years; Asina H., 19 years, Marion N., 40 years, Joerg T., 33Jahre is. Or Senka L., 27 years.

Falk Heunemann

business editor of the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.

F. A. Z.

your whole career on the Frankfurt Senka Lijovi? life in the company spent. Their training made them in the North-West centre at the Hertie, owned at the time to Karstadt, later they switched to the branch on the Zeil and works there today in the hosiery Department on the ground floor, on the left of the main entrance. Actually, says the mother of two children, got them this Wednesday. Nevertheless, she stands in front of the Department store, in order to demonstrate with colleagues for their jobs. “This crisis is egregious,” she says. “In the past, we knew at least that it will go at the end but more.” This hope you have now.

rent reduction to one Million

It is not the first crisis of the company they witnessed. To the turn of the Millennium, Karstadt-loss Hertie houses separated only a few years later, the next closures followed, a first insolvency procedure and several change of ownership. A year ago, the merger with Galeria Kaufhof was then. And a week ago, the next bankruptcy procedure.

Just sad the says Senka Lijovi? was the Motivation of the employees is in the basement. For many years, had been involved in the workforce, wage cuts accepted and had nevertheless remained loyal to the company. “And this is the thanks I get for it.” Is upset you, especially over the management of the house. The should demonstrate to you in front of the door, the Saxony häuserin, “it also has to do with their Jobs”. Even the landlord had let the protesters look. He was, it is said, that it is willing to reduce the rent to a Million euros.

First sweet, then Karstadt

With a collection of signatures, the employees hope to move the company’s management to relent. 13000 supporters name you would have already told a co-worker. With the lists, you are in the pause times before the inputs, and you have designed otherwise, in addition to the funds. Leaflets to passers-by are invited to send a Protest E-Mail to Arndt Geiwitz, the rehabilitation officer of the insolvent group.

Geiwitz has handled eight years ago, the Schlecker drugstores, he also advises troubled companies, such as Lufthansa and Bogner. The bankruptcy lawyer for the Karstadt-employees currently, the bogeyman. He can only tell a few days ago, that six stores of the chain are closed in Germany, but because the landlord concessions had to be made. The branch on the Zeil, however, is still on the string list, as well as the Karstadt branch in the Main-Taunus-Zentrum and Galeria Kaufhof in the Hessen-Center.