Cycling tour for exchange: Focus on the health situation in Lusatia!

Cycling tour for exchange: Focus on the health situation in Lusatia!

In Lusatia, exchange between works councils and employees is very important. A bike tour took place from May 23rd to 26th, 2025, which was organized by the Spree-Neiße district association. The aim of this tour was to promote direct dialogue with colleagues and works council members from the healthcare industry. The route led via Cottbus, Forst and Guben to Frankfurt (Oder). In total, the participants covered around 170 kilometers along the Oder-Neisse peace border.

One of the highlights was the open conversation with works council representatives at Spremberg Hospital. Visits also took place at the Lausitz Clinic Forst and the Naemi Wilke Foundation in Guben. These encounters led to valuable insights: direct exchange on site is of enormous importance for cooperation between employees and works councils.

Collaboration is key

The event laid the foundation for a planned meeting after the summer holidays. The DGB Spree-Neiße district associations and the works councils of the three hospitals presented will meet here to discuss burning issues. Above all, the working situation of the employees and the cooperation with the Lausitz Medical University “Carl Thiem” in Cottbus are on the agenda.

The world of work is constantly changing, and especially in the healthcare industry it is important that employees are well represented. Works councils and trade unions are central institutions of employee representation in Germany. Their common goal is to protect the interests of employees and identify legal violations. Works councils act as a link by representing the interests of employees and are involved in decisions on working conditions, working hours, remuneration and holiday regulations. In addition, they can provide important information and actively participate in social and economic affairs, as described in detail on Smart-BR.

A strong duo: union and works council

While the works council works at the company level, the union acts at an industry or even national level. The differences could not be clearer: the works council is an elected representative of a company's employees, while trade unions are an inter-company organization. However, both have a common goal: improving working conditions and protecting employees' rights. By working together, both parties can act more effectively and benefit from each other. Works councils have access to the expert knowledge of the unions, which provide support through training and consulting services. These synergies make a decisive contribution to promoting employee morale, motivation and satisfaction.

The cooperation between the works council and the union not only has a direct impact on the workforce, but also on the entire industry. Such networks are indispensable, especially in times of a shortage of skilled workers. An example of this is IG Metall, which, with over 24,000 companies, has enormous know-how from which company representatives can only benefit, as noted on IBP Magazin.