Freising's craftsmen in a ministerial interview: "Many throw in the towel"

Created: 09/30/2022, 08:00

Round table with senior masters and ministers: Thomas Grundner, Meinhard Berger, Korbinian Vaitl, Martin Reiter, Sebastian Volkert, Stefano Margiotto, Minister of State Florian Herrmann, Johann Bernhart and Rico Weichelt (from left).

© Lorenz

The energy costs will drive many craft businesses to the brink of ruin: Minister Florian Herrmann heard this fear in Freising.

Freising

- "The trade has survived all crises, but now we are caught on the wrong foot.

The energy costs will drive many people to the brink of ruin.” This is how the deputy foreman Rudi Waxenberger from the Freising/Erding construction guild described the current biggest problem among craftsmen.

Because the energy cost explosion is only the tip of the annoyance iceberg for craftsmen, district master craftsman Martin Reiter invited numerous senior masters and Minister of State Florian Herrmann to a round table in Freising on Thursday.

Small and medium-sized businesses are the foundation of our economy, and now many are throwing in the towel,” said Waxenberger, describing the current misery, which is mainly due to the gigantic energy costs.

Waxenberger's fear: "Perhaps we are facing the greatest economic crisis we have ever experienced." Another problem, albeit not a smaller one, is the low appreciation of craftsmanship per se. "The high schools are bursting at the seams, but very few high school graduates want it learn a trade," said Waxenberger.

According to the minister, the nuclear power plants must continue to run

“The key is reducing energy costs,” Herrmann explained.

“In order to reduce costs, more energy has to be put into circulation.

And that's why the nuclear power plants have to keep running and coal-fired power plants have to go online." What makes the state minister thoughtful: "Many from the left-wing spectrum don't want any growth at all and don't think it's that bad if companies have to close now.

Some of them are even in government right now.”

There was a contradiction here from Obermeister Jürgen Beil from the Freising/Erding painters' guild, who recalled that Bavarian energy policy had "gone wrong" for more than 20 years and "a lot was overslept".

Herrmann explained the hesitation of Bavarian politicians to expand renewable energies, especially wind power: "We only did 10H so that everyone is satisfied."

Many craftsmen complain about the enormous amount of bureaucracy

But where is the shoe still pinching among craftsmen?

What many complained about was an unbelievable bureaucracy, which would, for example, also complicate tenders to such an extent that orders can no longer be accepted.

The hiring of mini-jobbers is also an incredible feat of clerical work, as Hermann keeps hearing - as far as he knows, a contract for such a worker now comprises around eight pages.

(By the way: everything from the region is now also available in our regular Freising newsletter.)

The introduction of the so-called citizen's allowance as a replacement for Hartz 4 met with little approval at the round table, since people who did not want to work might even be better off financially than skilled workers.

"It's just the reversal of Gerhard Schröder's policy, which doesn't make sense at all.

We cannot show solidarity with people who laugh at the employees in the job center," emphasized Herrmann.

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The energy crisis crowds out all other problems

What Obermeister Johann Bernhart from the Freising carpenter's guild can no longer understand: "A parking permit for Munich costs craftsmen from the district over 700 euros - and then you don't even get a parking space.

Who is supposed to be able to pay for that anyway?”

Finally, Herrmann emphasized that the main focus of politics must now be directed to the energy price spiral, all other problems would then adjust to a normal level again.

His suggestion: “A decoupling of electricity and gas prices, including a price cap.

It won't work just by saving, and not just with tips from Winfried Kretschmann.” Herrmann thinks his advice is one thing above all – namely “bourgeois”.

Richard Lorenz

You can find more current news from the district of Freising at Merkur.de/Freising.