2023-05-19 19:39:40
The fact that interim boss Katrin Vernau did not apply forced the staff council to take a controversial action. That could sow mistrust again. A comment.
Katrin Vernau would like to remain Director of Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB). But she didn’t apply. This leads to distrust in the broadcaster.epd / imago
In four weeks, Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB) is to get a new director. Then the station could finally face quieter times again. Or not.
Because of all things, there are internal quarrels about filling the top job, which then promptly leaked out this week and fueled the suspicion that the broadcaster is far from calm.
As is well known, the chief job at the station became vacant because Patricia Schlesinger, who had held the office since 2016, resigned more than ingloriously. The allegations against them are numerous: they range from a salary that was significantly higher than that of the other ARD directors and was approved by the chairman of the board of directors alone, to a luxuriously renovated office floor to a mega expensive company car with massage seats as well as private trips and meals, each over were billed to the station as official.
The new RBB boss must credibly advance the realignment
All of these allegations are far from cleared up. The commissioned law firm allows itself plenty of time for this – and is paid handsomely. This is already a point because the RBB has to save massively. The midday magazine was handed over to the MDR for cost reasons, the RBB magazine Praxis is on the brink, other savings measures are to come.
At the same time, there is still a structure of non-tariff and extremely lavish house-tariff pay. And last but not least, the scandal has fueled heated discussions far beyond Berlin and Brandenburg about the – according to the accusation – overstaffed, overpaid and little flexible public service media.
The RBB therefore urgently needs a boss who can credibly advance the repositioning of the station. Unfortunately, the interim director of all people contributed to the confusion on this point. She had explained to the workforce that she would like to continue in her position. However, she did not officially apply for the position.
Instead, she gave the Tagesspiegel a highly irritating interview. In it she explained that she did not want to campaign on her own behalf. But she would still like the job, which she repeated when she got the chance.
The not-so-subtle subtext was: Dear staff, if you want me, you’d have to ask me. The Süddeutsche Zeitung made fun of this trick by comparing Vernau to Markus Söder, who also likes to attack his competition from cover.
Nevertheless, the staff council fell for Vernau’s ruse and, after the official end of the application period, advocated that “all suitable candidates should be considered”. Does that mean that you are making an extra sausage for Vernau and that you are supposed to smuggle it into the awarding process by asking? Above all – this is also already being spread – because the applicant pool is not so plentiful?
RBB: The executives have inordinately high salaries
In the broadcaster, the initiative of the staff council caused resentment among the employees. On the intranet, some suspect that the staff council is trying to influence the process in Vernaus’ favor. Spicy: The chairperson of the staff council is a member of the six-person selection committee, as is a member of the freelance representation, among other things. Is the process now being torpedoed in which one is supposed to take part?
Apparently, the Broadcasting Council also fears this. In a letter to the employees, which was later also published on the RBB website, Chairman Oliver Bürgel pointed out that agreement had been reached on “a clear, democratic and transparent procedure”, which would now also be implemented. The selection committee will now hold talks “with the candidates from the application process” and then make further decisions, he clarified.
After all, there is enough work for the new boss. The system of non-tariff payment alone has the potential to gamble away the broadcaster’s newly gained credibility. For example, the management and legal departments should continue to be paid non-tariff. We are talking about sums of more than 11,241 euros per month – this amount is still part of the house tariff! It remains to be seen whether the RBB will soon be headed by a personality who dares to push through real reforms. It would be desirable not only for the fee payers, but also for the employees.
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