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From George Moeritz
Dresden. Andreas Konschak has no use for customs borders. Whenever he hears about the sealing off of other countries, he worries about his work: Konschak is head of generator production at Siemens Energy in Erfurt, which, together with the Görlitz turbine plant, has equipped the largest solar thermal power plant in Dubai. His customers from Arab countries travel to Erfurt for several days for product acceptance and are also shown around the city. "You're in need of an explanation when you pass AfD posters," said Konschak on Thursday at a press conference organized by the business initiative "We stand for values."
The participating company bosses did not actually want to mention any party names. The alliance stands for political neutrality, said spokesman Frank Wienstroth from the BMW press department. He sees populism and extremist views "at both ends" of the political spectrum. "Xenophobia really is a risk," the spokesman emphasized.
Under the name "We stand for values" around 40 companies with a total of 1.8 million employees have joined forces to form an alliance for diversity, tolerance and openness. Even before the European elections in June, they called on people to get involved. Now, companies from Saxony, Thuringia and Brandenburg are joining forces in this alliance to give their values a voice ahead of the state elections in September.
Siemens spokesperson: It's not a specifically East German issue
The alliance is not a flash in the pan, said Karsten Petrusch, spokesman for the Siemens branch in Leipzig, which manufactures fast-charging stations, for example, and supplies them all over the world. Tolerance is the basis of the business. He does not see this as a particularly East German issue. "We just happen to have elections in the East now," said Petrusch. The alliance wants to get involved again next year before the federal elections.
Its members include Allianz and Deutsche Bahn, Dussmann and Eon, Bosch and Vonovia - but also the German Trade Union Federation and the Federation of German Industries. On the Website of "We stand for values" The entire list can be found on the website, where the heads of large corporations also comment on the issue. The participants expect even more companies to take part.
BWM Leipzig boss Peterhänsel: German courses in the company
The entrepreneurs and managers in the alliance also want to talk about their values in internal company discussions, with some organizing workshops. Petra Peterhänsel, head of the BMW plant in Leipzig with more than 10,000 employees from over 90 nations, also organizes German courses. "We mix the groups," said Peterhänsel. There is also intercultural training for managers. Employees from different nations introduce themselves in videos on the employee channel.
BMW Leipzig recently hired more than 900 employees, primarily for the new night shift in assembly. Peterhänsel said that so many could not be found in the region. So recruitment agencies were commissioned. They were given the message beforehand: "We stand for openness and diversity." Janet Jurk, Head of Human Resources at the ICE maintenance plant in Cottbus, said that an effective democracy is a location factor. "Anti-European aspirations endanger us."
The alliance is pleased that there are similar regional initiatives - such as the Business Association for a Cosmopolitan Saxony and the Campaign #stay stable from Dresden. Siemens spokesperson Petrusch said that young employees had suggested using this campaign to encourage participation in the election. Wienstroth said that the state election was about important decisions on education, security and infrastructure. There are no supposedly simple solutions.
