Solidarity with Isabella (Isa) Paape

Statement of solidarity by DGB Region Middle Franconia

German Trade Union Confederation – Region Middle Franconia
DGB Region Middle Franconia · Kornmarkt 5–7 · 90402 Nuremberg
Page 1/2

To all KV/SV and managing directors of the member unions in Middle Franconia

More protection and more respect for workplace co-determination rights at SIEMENS Energy Erlangen in connection with the summary dismissal of works council member Isabella Paape

We hereby express our solidarity with our IG Metall members and with the employees at SIEMENS Energy Erlangen who are committed to strong and effective workplace co-determination.

Together, we stand for democratically elected employee representative bodies being able to carry out their duties free from pressure, interference or obstruction. This right applies to every member of a works council.

Workplace co-determination is an indispensable part of a functioning world of work and has been hard won by the trade unions. It protects employees, creates transparency and ensures fair decisions in the company. The summary dismissal of works council member Isabella Paape is currently being reviewed and raises more questions than it answers. To the best of our knowledge, important co-determination procedures were not implemented correctly.

We therefore demand:

• The summary dismissal of Isabella Paape must be revoked without delay.
• The legal provisions must be complied with.
• Co-determination rights must be respected.
• A proper and respectful way of dealing with members of employee representative bodies must be ensured.

3 December 2025

Contact person:
Stephan Doll
Regional Managing Director
German Trade Union Confederation, Region Middle Franconia
Kornmarkt 5–7, 90402 Nuremberg
Phone: +49 911 248458-6
stephan.doll@dgb.de
mittelfranken.dgb.de

Page 2/2

As a trade union we remain committed to our central task: protecting co-determination, strengthening democratic structures in the workplace and defending the rights of our members and of the employees at SIEMENS Energy in Erlangen.

For questions and further messages of solidarity, please contact Nick Heindl, first authorised representative of IG Metall Erlangen: Nick.heindl@igmetall.de

Kind regards
Stephan Doll

Statement by GEW Erlangen on the dismissal of Isa Paape

The Education and Science Workers’ Union (GEW) in Erlangen strongly condemns the summary dismissal of Siemens Energy works council member Isa Paape. In its statement, the GEW emphasises that Isa is a committed works council member and trade union activist and that the dismissal was issued without a transparent justification.

The GEW views this step as an attack on the great majority of employees who have nothing to sell but their labour power, and at the same time as an attack on workplace co-determination and on the fundamental right to organise in trade unions and to stand up collectively for one’s interests.

The statement highlights that the summary dismissal of an elected works council member without clear reasons is legally highly questionable and could set a dangerous precedent: if courts were to accept such practice, it would become much easier to sideline inconvenient works council members for months or to prevent them from being re-elected.

GEW Erlangen also points to the role of the works council body itself, which raises serious questions if it consented to the dismissal without sufficient information or without properly hearing the colleague concerned. Such behaviour would not only be at odds with the legal duty to scrutinise dismissals, it would also undermine trust in employee representation structures.

The GEW therefore calls on colleagues and the wider public to take a clear stand with Isa Paape. As a first practical step, the statement urges people to support the ongoing petition demanding that the dismissal be revoked and that Isa must be allowed to stand again as a candidate in the next works council election:

Petition “Betriebsrätin Isabella Paape – Kündigung zurücknehmen, Kandidatur ermöglichen”

In conclusion, GEW Erlangen stresses that only visible and broad support for Isa can prevent this kind of approach from succeeding. Defending co-determination and trade union rights is, according to the GEW, a task that concerns all of us – far beyond Siemens Energy.