As of: February 5, 2024, 9:00 a.m
By: Elke Robert
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For a small number of employees, things could even continue in Schongau, although the contracts are still not in place.
© HEROLD
The workforce of the former Schongau stocking factory met for one last company party.
At least 40 percent of former employees have a new job.
Things could even continue for two dozen employees with a new investor.
The court is also dealing with the company.
Schongau
- At a company party with an information event in the Schäferwirt, works councilor Thomas Schweiger brought the workforce of the former Schongau stocking factory up to date. Schweiger was pleased that around 70 employees of the stocking manufacturer DBI Supply Chain Germany GmbH - many know the traditional company better as Bellinda or Father – had come.
Last May, almost 100 employees received the bitter news that the machines on Schönlinderstrasse would be shut down.
By the way: Everything from the region is also available in our regular Schongau newsletter.
And in our Weilheim-Penzberg newsletter.
After the official declaration of insolvency, a transfer company was founded, to which, according to Schweiger, 65 employees ultimately transferred.
Many employees took advantage of the opportunity to take part in further training or application training.
Schweiger speaks of 27 employees who got a new employment contract through this option.
Three trainees were placed at companies in Schongau where they can complete their apprenticeship.
Interested party would take on some employees
38 employees are not yet employed again.
It could certainly continue for 20 to 25 skilled workers.
Since the summer there have been discussions with an interested party from the Munich area who would like to take on the specialists for a similar industry, but not in the hosiery sector and therefore no competition.
And this even on site in Schongau, as a small branch office.
But unfortunately no rental agreement has been concluded so far, DBI is “not really out of the loop,” as Schweiger puts it, who is pretty angry about it.
“It's depressing because our people are still interested in these positions, and the investor may lose interest in them at some point.” Schweiger hopes that open questions will be clarified in a timely manner.
A Schongau company that already has storage space in the building would also like to rent additional halls - here too, according to Schweiger's information, nothing has been contractually agreed upon.
The IG Metall representative is also angry
Helmut Dinter, who was on site at the company celebration as an authorized representative of IG Metall, also shares the hope that some employees will be taken on.
“A sad occasion,” he commented on the evening.
“There was a lot to talk about, but there was also a lot of lamentation.” Many of the employees expressed “their extreme disappointment at the shoddiness of the last management they had there.”
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The accusation is that the DBI management, despite the works council's request, did not enter into an orderly procedure for a reconciliation of interests and a social plan, but instead immediately filed for insolvency - to the detriment of the employees and ultimately also the taxpayer.
IG Metall had decided to take legal action (we reported), “always with the tenor that what the management had done should not become a model,” explains Dinter in an interview with the Schongauer Nachrichten.
“We don’t want to allow them to walk without pain.”
All news and stories can also be found on the Schongauer Nachrichten Facebook page.
The public prosecutor is currently investigating whether the management's actions are criminally relevant.
At the same time, IG Metall initiated administrative offense proceedings.
However, the district administrative authority will only take action once the criminal proceedings are underway.
However, the conciliation hearing has already taken place before the labor court.
Bankruptcy is expected to be completed this year
“The insolvency should be completed in 2024,” said insolvency administrator Michael Verken.
All issues have been clarified in Schongau and the transfer company will run until the middle of the year.
A very good solution was found for the employees, which was recently unanimously approved at the creditors' meeting.
“The process has developed positively, the result is better than expected,” says Verken.
The best that was possible was achieved economically.
The employees all pulled together, he praises.
“That was also the key to success.”
Expressed in numbers: The severance payout of 700 euros will probably be paid out to the former employees this quarter.
The works council chairman estimates that the creditors' claims could be satisfied in the double-digit range - 30 to 40 percent of the outstanding claims can be expected.
The creditors also include employees who were recently no longer paid overtime or bonuses.
57 employees go to court
57 former employees of the hosiery factory have filed a lawsuit against their former employer DIM Brands International to fight for compensation for disadvantages such as proper severance pay.
The majority of them are represented by unions, three employees by their own lawyer.
There could be a pilot process.
Even in the few minutes in the courtroom during the first conciliation hearing, it became clear how difficult and lengthy the proceedings could be.
The employer's lawyer did not have a settlement offer, on the contrary.
The lawsuits are addressed to the “wrong party”, they are not the employer company and are not liable.
“DIM Brands International doesn’t even exist,” said the lawyer.
Opaque company structure
The former Schongau employer DBI Supply Chain Germany GmbH is one of 32 companies in the DIM Brands International group of companies, emphasized the lawyer for the three employees.
This was the signature on business mail shortly after the bankruptcy was declared in May 2023, which is also available to Schongauer Nachrichten.
The Schongau company was represented by Maria Savvidou with an address in the Republic of Cyprus.
Luc Vergels from France, Klaus Brüning from Rheine and Josef Blömer from Laer came to represent the management at company meetings.
The American investor Regent LP took over DBI Supply Chain Germany GmbH in 2022.
The local newspapers in the Weilheim-Schongau district are represented on Instagram under “merkur_wm_sog”.
The judge told the plaintiffs to clarify which legal entities the lawsuit was directed at.
She also suggested thinking about a model lawsuit, “also to reduce the flood of paper if the facts are always the same.”
She already has two identical written submissions - from the DGB and the lawyer for the three employees.