“We make formal wear for men—things like wedding suits, tuxedos, and tailcoats. Not much clothing is produced in Germany anymore, but we’ve found a niche, and we’re doing really well in that niche. We mainly produce ready-to-wear clothing, but we also make custom-tailored pieces upon request. We’ve even tailored suits for celebrities: André Rieu, for example, who needs a special cut so he can play the violin. Then there’s Peter Maffay, Thomas Gottschalk, and Ralf Morgenstern. A lot of the work here is still done by hand. We have over 1,000 outer fabrics in stock and try to make everything possible.
We work on a piecework basis here. People earn good money, but it’s also hard-earned money. They’ve truly earned it in the truest sense of the word. I know what I’m talking about—I’ve sat at the machine long enough myself. That experience also helps me in my work as a team leader. It gets hot here in the summer—38 degrees—and in the ironing room it even reaches 45 degrees. It really is a tough job. Ironing constantly, for example, takes a toll on your joints—an iron like that is heavy, after all.
IG Metall is a must. They get involved. No matter where. Not just in collective bargaining, but also in social policy—IG Metall really does a lot. I can only recommend that everyone get involved in the union. I’m the works council chair today, and sometimes I worry about young people. So many young people are so uninterested in politics. Take the issue of pensions, for example—they really should be paying attention. That affects young people the most, after all! We’re almost at the end of our pension years, but even we have to expect reductions. What’s going to happen to the young people?”
