As of: April 5, 2024, 2:00 p.m
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Martin Reiter (l.) was elected district master craftsman for another four years - to the delight of Frank Hüpers, general manager of the Chamber of Crafts for Munich and Upper Bavaria (r.). Reiter is supported by his new deputies Margit Gantner and Korbinian Vaitl. © District craftsmen’s association
It was actually supposed to end after 18 years, but now the district master craftsman is moving on. In the FT interview he explains his reasons - and complains.
District
– Actually it should be over. But as is often the case, things turned out differently than planned for Martin Reiter. The 64-year-old stood for election again as district master craftsman. However, he emphasizes that he will not fulfill the four-year term of office. In two years it will really be over. Reiter was a mouthpiece and fighter for the interests of the trade for 20 years.
Mr. Reiter, you actually didn't want to compete anymore. Where did the change of heart come from?
One of my two deputies was actually supposed to take over. But they are no longer available, so I'll continue again and we have elected two new deputies. They will now be introduced to the office over the next two years, get to know it and then know what to do. And then one of them has to go ahead and stand for election.
Is district master craftsman a nice job in times like these? What is the situation in the craft sector at the moment?
Everyone is struggling with the same problems: high energy costs, rising prices and rising interest rates. In the construction industry, this can be seen, for example, in the fact that the number of new buildings in the district has decreased by 35 percent compared to the previous year. This means that some companies have to suspend their people or send them on short-time work. And with a six-month delay, this also affects the finishing trades. Some are also shaken by the fact that they now have to pay back the Corona aid. Bakers and others suffer from energy costs. Still others - and not just in the construction industry - cannot cycle their materials to the construction site because the fuel costs hurt them. And then tractors block the highway, so you stand on the road for an hour.
And what is the situation on the training market?
Thank God it has stabilized in recent years. In some areas - for example in the food industry - there are a little too few, but in the construction sector the situation is quite good. It made a lot of difference that we went to schools and promoted the craft. For example, I was in a class at the Montessori school, where 15 of the 25 students had already completed an internship in a craft business.
Are you positive about the next two years?
No, because there are still too many problems that politicians have to solve. Personally, what upsets me the most is that people who have worked for 40 or 45 years now have to go home with a pension of 1,200 or 1,500 euros. None of them can renovate or insulate their house in terms of energy efficiency. I don't think it's right that billions are being pushed somewhere and people aren't thinking about our people. There is an urgent need for action. People are dissatisfied. You just have to look at what the election results are. The strength of the AfD is frightening.
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Good to know:
At the annual general meeting of the district craftsmen's association, Martin Reiter was confirmed in office for another four years. He is supported by Margit Gantner, head of the Freising hairdressing and cosmetics guild, and Korbinian Vaitl, head of the Freising carpenters' guild. The assessors are Thomas Grundner, senior master baker's guild Freising, Sebastian Volkert, senior master glazier's guild Munich-Upper Bavaria, Jürgen Beil, senior master painter-varnisher's guild Freising-Erding, Meinhard Berger, southern Bavarian guild R + S, Johann Bernhart, senior master carpenter- Freising Guild, Stefano Margiotta, Head Master of the SHK Plumbers Guild Freising-Erding.
As part of World Pet Day on April 11th, the Freisinger Tagblatt is collecting photos of its readers with their animal companions. Whether dog, cat, goldfish or exotic animal - the local newspaper welcomes all submissions.