Welcome!

This is the webpage of the Works Council (Betriebsrat) of Jacobs University. The 11 members are acting according to the Works Constitution Act (Betriebsverfassungsgesetz). Among the responsibilities are rights of co determination (i.e. concerning personnel development) and common safety, health, and social aspects of the workplaces. The Works Council was elected in April 2018.

The Works Council at Jacobs University represents all employees, regardless whether they are staff or faculty. The only precondition to be represented by the Works Council is a work contract (wage earners and salaried employees including persons employed for the purpose of their vocational training). So also post-docs who are paid by third-party money and students with a job as teaching assistants are represented by us.

In 2010, the first Works Council was elected at Jacobs University. Since then, we represent the employees ensuring the participation in decision-making according to the Works Council Act (Betriebsverfassungsgesetz, BetrVG).

At present, the Works Council has eleven members.

Chair: Prof. Dr. Alexander Lerchl
Co-Chair: Andrea Thamm
Phone: 0421-2004130
E-Mail: workscouncil [at] jacobs-university.de
or: betriebsrat [at] jacobs-university.de
Fax: 0421-200494130

Duties of the Works Council (cited verbatim from the law)

1. to see that effect is given to Acts, ordinances, safety regulations, collective agreements and works agreements for the benefit of the employees;


2. to make recommendations to the employer for action benefiting the establishment and the staff;
   
   
   1. to promote the implementation of actual equality between women and men, in particular, as regards recruitment, employment, training, further training and additional training and vocational advancement;
   
   
   2. to promote reconciliation of family and work;


3. to receive suggestions from employees and the youth and trainee delegation and, if they are found to be justified, to negotiate with the employer for their implementation; it shall inform the employees concerned of the state of the negotiations and their results;


4. to promote the rehabilitation of severely handicapped persons and other persons in particular need of assistance;


5. to prepare and organise the election of a youth and trainee delegation and to collaborate closely with said delegation in promoting the interests of the employees referred to in section 60 (1); it may invite the youth and trainee delegation to make suggestions and to state its view on various matters;


6. to promote the employment of elderly workers in the establishment;


7. to promote the integration of foreign workers in the establishment and to further understanding between them and their German colleagues, and to request activities to combat racism and xenophobia in the establishment;


8. to promote and safeguard employment in the establishment;


9. to promote health and safety at work and the protection of the environment in the establishment.

Further reading:

The Works Council Act (english)

Das Betriebsverfassungsgesetz (deutsch)

Internal Teamwork Page