The surprise change by former chairman of the Transnet rail union, Norbert Hansen, to the post of Human Resources Director of Deutsche Bahn AG leads to mass resignations from the union.

Approximately 1,000 members have so far left because of the sideways shift by Hansen, Transnet spokesman Oliver Kaufhold announced on Tuesday. Although his organisation has been fighting for years with loss of members - "but that many in one fell swoop" - so many members of the union wanting to resign has never occurred before. Transnet currently has some 240,000 members and is the largest rail union in Germany.

Kaufhold acknowledged that possibly the loss of members has been caused because of resentment over the debate on partial privatisation of the railway. Transnet welcomed the controversial plans for rail privatisation - in contrast to the train drivers' union. With its alignment to the privatisation plans of railway boss Hartmut Mehdorn Transnet wanted to prevent a dismantling of the DB group because the union feared other variants of privatisation. Transnet now hopes that not all union members, who denounced it will actually abandon their union. "We are fighting for every member," said Kaufhold.

Kaufhold can not yet foresee the practical consequences of the wave of resignations. Transnet is preparing to hold a great union debate in late November in Berlin. Kaufhold is more concerned about the specific problems of employees in the workplace, such as overheated engine cabs or rest rooms.

For Hans-Gerd Öfinger from the rank and file organisation "Rail from below" the exit wave is a serious signal. "Transnet is facing the rubble of the Hansen system," said Öfinger. "The members feel cheated." However, Öfinger advises members to refrain from leaving Transnet. A bad trade union is still better than none at all. Even a transfer to another union solves no problems. Now it is rather important that the commitment and discontent within Transnet makes a start for a different policy, says Öfinger. "We need a shift away from privatisation and from the course of collaboration with the management."

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Transnet members run away - Krauss in cross fire

Sueddeutsche Zeitung: 29.07.2008
By Tobias Dorfer

The Transnet rank and file are angry at their ex-boss Hansen and the tame response of the new leadership. Now, some 1000 members have announced their resignation. The union is trying desperately to keep them.

In the cross-fire enlarge the base: Transnet boss Lothar Krauss - Photo: Reuters

Attack is the best defense, which Lothar Krauss has quickly understood. No discussions are to be raised, any grumbling has been nipped in the bud in Krauss' election to become Transnet chief Norbert Hansen's successor.

Previously, Hansen spoke to Bild-Zeitungnewspaper, and - even before his appointment to Rail Personnel Executive Committee - made it clear to the nearly 230,000 Deutsche Bahn railworkers what they could expect soon: rationalization, restructuring, more work. At the same time he suggested a new job title of chief of staff for the driver who could be given the responsibility for "cleaning up small stations."

Meanwhile, no one needs to worry about Krauss' cycle, when the question comes to his predecessor: "There were a few remarks at the wrong time, it would have been better not to have said," said a noticeably moderate Krauss to the Hamburger Abendblatt newspaper.

Deep-seated rage

The criticism of Hansen was well-known, said a Transnet spokesman.

At the rank and file level, however, the anger at Hansen and his departure still runs deep. It is huge in the local union administrations - and the anger is directed against the current leadership: "We have missed a clear distancing from Norbert's behaviour by the remaining executive board members," said the Transnet members of the local administration of Hansen's native city Husum.

Many furious trade unionists want the former chief excluded from Transnet and the attempt failed. In the last week Berlin rigorously rejected five corresponding applications from local administrations. But the problems are not off the table. "There is a fairly large crisis in Transnet," says Hans-Gerd Öfinger, spokesman for the Transnet-based initiative "rail from below".

Why some 1000 members Transnet want to leave - and how the leadership of the union hopes they will stay.

Apparently, this crisis is already so great that some 1000 members, according to a Transnet spokesman - already planning their exit. While 1000 members leaving out of a total of 250,000 is not much - the public impact is immense.

Former Transnet boss Hansen: "A few remarks at the wrong time." - Photo: Reuters

The resignations are not yet over, because according to the rules membership is measured every three months to the end of next quarter. Who will resign at the end of September, his resignation request to submit the end of June.

How many such letters the matter has already generated the union will not say. "Currently no figures are available," said the spokesman.

In any case, dissatisfied members may stay. Through personal discussions, it is hoped that Transnet, could convince people to think again. "If you talk to people, often they see things differently," said the spokesman - and adds: "We are fighting for each member."

No carte blanche for the Transnet leadership

Transnet will also have struggles with its critics says Öfinger. "Leaving is not a solution," says the union rebel. The leavers should not think that the competing unions GDBA or GDL would be better.

The new Transnet leadership does not have carte blanche says Öfinger - and calls for a change of strategy: "The collaboration with railway management must be stopped."

Even Lothar Krauss has understood the wrath of the rank and file. Indeed, in November, the entire union executive council is up for re-election. According to Öfinger there could then be "substantial discussions". Because the new leadership, says the Transnet-man, is distrusted by the rank and file: "There is a degree of scepticism."