Germany: the leader of the first rail union becomes staff manager at the Deutsche Bahn AG

At the beginning of May, Norbert Hansen, president of Transnet, the DB's main union, resigned from his position to become staff manager at the DB AG. This unexpected "transfer" was criticized from all sides and increases employees' doubts regarding the strategy of the Deutsche Bahn, which started outsourcing some of its regional operating companies. (Ref. 080407)
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Elected in 1999 as the leader of Transnet (240.000 members), Norbert Hansen left the chairmanship of the union on May 8. One week later, as announced, he was appointed by the DB AG’s supervisory board– to which he belonged until recently – as “Arbeitsdirektor” (literally “worker director”) in the new management of the DB AG.

Former unionist and new HRD. Born from the laws on joint management, the Arbeitsdirektor position in large businesses equals the position of Human Resources Manager, with th

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