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Verdi leader defends department store model amid Galeria insolvency
Frank Werneke, head of the Verdi trade union, stated that the department store concept remains viable, citing successful examples like Galeries Lafayette in France, El Corte Inglés in Spain, and Breuninger in Germany. He emphasized that success requires material and conceptual investment, attractive products, and a strong atmosphere.
Werneke criticized the management of the Galeria department store chain, noting it has faced four insolvencies in six years. He claimed the company fell into the hands of speculators who enriched themselves while employees made sacrifices through lowered wages.
To protect the retail sector and city centers, Werneke called for a shift in trade policy. He advocated for stronger European protection against subsidized low-cost imports from East Asia, specifically mentioning online retailers like Temu and Shein, which he identified as threats to German city centers due to duty-free imports that bypass labor and product safety standards.
Entities
Frank Werneke · Galeria · Shein · Temu · Verdi
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Employees at Galeria have endured lowered wages to keep the company afloat. radioosnabrueck.de · www.nachrichten-heute.net · www.berliner-sonntagsblatt.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Galeria has faced four insolvencies within a six-year period. radioosnabrueck.de · www.nachrichten-heute.net · www.berliner-sonntagsblatt.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Online retailers like Temu and Shein are identified as threats to German city centers. radioosnabrueck.de · www.nachrichten-heute.net · www.berliner-sonntagsblatt.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Verdi calls for stronger European protection against subsidized low-cost imports. radioosnabrueck.de · www.nachrichten-heute.net · www.berliner-sonntagsblatt.de