Germany: former Siemens manager admits “buying” a union to block the IG Metall, the majority union

The trial of Wilhelm Schelsky, former head of the independent employee association AUB (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Unabhängiger Betriebsangehöriger) and of Johannes Feldmayer, former Siemens manager, started on September 24, 2008 in Nuremberg. Mr. Schelsky received at least €30 million to support the election of staff representatives friendly to the management. At the first hearing, Mr. Feldmayer recognized that these bribes were part of a strategy. Mr. Schelsky also "helped" other companies out. (Ref. 080723)
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The trial which started in Nuremberg is unprecedented in Germany. “This is the most extreme example of a company influencing a trade union I have ever seen” said Peter von Blomberg, VP of the German branch of Transparency International, who feels that, although embezzlement, tax evasion and fraud (for Schelsky) are proven, German law never took account of such a bribery case and the legal frame on which the prosecution rests is fragile.

€30 million for a “union lobbyist”. According to informatio

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