the renovation of The warehouse group’s Galeria, Karstadt, Kaufhof has also consequences for the Rhine-Main. According to the Union Verdi will be closed in the Region of three branches of Karstadt and Kaufhof. The branches of Karstadt on the Frankfurt Zeil, in Mainz, Germany (Ludwig street), in the Main-Taunus-Zentrum in Sulzbach as well as the location of the Kaufhof in the Hessen-Center in Bergen-Enkheim are affected. In addition, the Kaufhof in Fulda closes in Hessen its doors. Throughout the state, 450 employees are affected, according to the Verdi of the decision. Previously, the group’s management had informed the works Council about the Details of the reorganization plan.
by Daniel Schleidt
editor in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.
F. A. Z. Twitter
especially the closure of the Karstadt store on the Zeil, which is just 300 meters away from the location of Galeria Kaufhof, is considered to be surprising. In the past few weeks had been speculated, about half of the Germany-wide 170 location of both houses could be closed. Since then, the employees at those places were especially Worried about their jobs, where there is duplication of structures, so both of the group’s brands are represented. This includes Wiesbaden, Darmstadt, Main-Taunus-Zentrum, but also the cell count. There, however, it was assumed to be due to the traction of the shopping street that both houses could be preserved.
“A small glimmer of hope”
According to the Verdi trade Union Secretary Horst Gobrecht, a small glimmer of hope exists for the site but still “”. Accordingly, the building of the Karstadt, three belong to landlords. This was a reduction in rent ready, there is the possibility to save the branch.
in Total there are in the Rhine-Main-Region seven Karstadt – and eight-Kaufhof branches. Added to this are three locations of Karstadt Sport. How to do it with you, this decision is to be announced, according to Gobrecht, probably in the course of the day.
“The colleagues concerned are, of course, destroyed on the ground, many are on the verge of tears,” said Gobrecht. Overall, Galeria, Karstadt, Kaufhof includes almost every third branch, 6000 Employees will lose their Job. For 62 of the total of 172Warenhäuser the Ausbesiegelt, the company said: “For you not an economic continuation is a good prospect.”
Monika di Silvestre,country Director of the Department of trade of Verdi, Rheinland-Pfalz, regretted the decision to the detriment of the Karstadt branch in Mainz.“We are of the opinion that both would have had a raison d’être,“ she said, and criticized, in the past few years, whether it has been missed to develop appropriate concepts.”It is sad and a pity that here, for every plight of the red pen as the first in the employees, is recognized.”
struggle for Survival
The closures are part of a reorganization plan of the in the Corona-crisis to Survive, fighting chain, the überMiet also landlords with rebates are negotiated. The General Manager Arndt Geiwitz and the court-appointed administrator Frank Kebekus agreed with the workers on a social plan for the affected employees and a balancing of interests. “Corporate corporate decision to close the warehouse stores, hits the 6,000 employees and their families hard,” lamented Verdi. For those Affected, there should be severance pay, in addition, you can be for six months, in a transfer company employed.
