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Gradl steps down after 33 years: end of an era for workshops in Bavaria!
Joachim Gradl is stepping down after 33 years as head of the workshop council in Amberg-Sulzbach, a role model for inclusion and co-determination.
Gradl steps down after 33 years: end of an era for workshops in Bavaria!
Today the Amberg-Sulzbach region is looking at the end of an era: after more than 30 years, Joachim Gradl has ended his term as chairman of the workshop council of the Jura workshops. Since the committee was founded in 1992, the committed Gradl has advocated for the interests of people with intellectual disabilities and mental illnesses. How oberpfalzecho.de reports, his withdrawal will have a major impact on co-determination and interest representation in the law workshops.
Gradl pioneered numerous measures that improved the lives of employees. Under his leadership, significant progress was made, including the drafting of a workshop contract in plain language and strengthening participation in company agreements. In addition, regular employee surveys were introduced to promote exchange between employees and management. Practical improvements, such as the introduction of electronic door openers and the inclusion of vegetarian dishes in the lunch menu, are also due to his initiative.
A strong network for participation
Gradl was not only active locally, but also nationally: he was a founding member of the district working group of the Upper Palatinate workshop councils and the state working group of workshop councils in Bavaria, which he helped to shape for many years. Managing director Bernhard Albrecht praised Gradl's tireless commitment and numerous successes in co-determination. “The representation of interests in the law workshops will no longer be the same without him,” said Albrecht about the outgoing chairman.
The challenges for people with disabilities
Gradl's commitment should be seen particularly against the background of the current discussions about the labor market integration of people with disabilities. According to a study by the BMAS The current remuneration system in workshops is viewed critically. The survey aims to develop a transparent and sustainable wage system that should also improve the transition to the general labor market. In this context, the opinions of workshop management, employees and relatives are sought in order to develop concrete suggestions for improvement.
The workshops for people with disabilities (WfbM) play an important role in the working lives of people with special needs. The German Red Cross provides comprehensive offers to ensure participation in working life. This includes outpatient services and specialist integration services that support employment in the general labor market.
Young people with disabilities often face the challenge of finding a training position after school. Vocational training centers offer special programs to make this transition easier. Day care centers also support the development of autonomy and personality development so that those affected are well prepared for working life.
With Joachim Gradl, not only is an experienced leader leaving - he also leaves a gap in participation for people with disabilities. Thanks to his tireless work, many of the planned reforms and approaches are being pursued to make advocacy in the law workshops fit for the future. The region can be proud of its decades of work and at the same time look forward to the next steps in the development of the workshops and their offerings.