After the RBB crisis, interim director Katrin Vernau tries to clarify. Recently, two cases made headlines: before a labor court, the broadcaster’s lawyers refused to come to an amicable agreement with the dismissed director Susann Lange. At the same time, interim director Vernau reported on the ARD broadcaster’s intranet that new inconsistencies in payments to the old top staff were being investigated.
Specifically, the management staff of the ARD broadcaster, including the management, is said to have received 1,700 euros more per month because the RBB chaired the ARD for the first time last year. These additional payments are said to have been paid out months before the start of the ARD presidency. As a rule, the presidency moves between the ARD houses every two years. According to Vernau, the payments to the top executives were made up to and including July 2022 – in the wake of the scandal, the broadcaster gave up the chair again in the summer.
It is now apparently unclear whether the additional payments were made in accordance with the regulations and approved by the board of directors, one of the broadcaster’s control bodies. Vernau explained that there were additional agreements. These contracts were all countersigned by the chairman of the board of directors, Wolf-Dieter Wolf, who also resigned in the midst of the felt scandal. However, the current head of the board of directors informed the dpa that the rest of the board was not involved at the time. There were no draft resolutions.
Katrin Vernau: “Measurement and balance have been completely lost.”
Vernau said that in the case of the former director Patricia Schlesinger, there was a draft submission to the board of directors for an allowance of 2,000 euros. However, the minutes of a meeting do not indicate that the proposal was available to the Council. Vernau went on to explain: “However, the allowance was not paid to Ms. Schlesinger because the HR department did not have this agreement.”
You are now having the facts checked, Vernau explained to the station’s employees on the intranet. An employment law firm should clarify whether and to what extent those involved in the process violated their duty of care. The director also said that “measure and middle have been completely lost”. According to the dpa, the board of directors of the broadcaster also wants to have the facts examined legally.
At the request of the dpa, the ARD describes the processes as unusual. Allowances of this amount, which come about in this way, are not otherwise known from the ARD.
Termination of Director: No comparison in court
Legal director Susann Lange was also one of the top management personnel. A labor dispute between her and the broadcaster continues. A conciliation appointment before the Berlin Labor Court, which aims at a possible comparison of the parties, did not bring any results on Wednesday – the broadcaster does not give in. “The RBB is not willing to compare,” said a lawyer.
In the summer, the Berlin public prosecutor’s office began investigations into the RBB affair and then expanded them – including director Lange. In October it became known that the RBB had relieved her of her official duties. In December, the broadcaster then gave her an extraordinary termination, against which she is now legally defending herself. For reasons of privacy and data protection, no further details of the case have been given. According to the court, Lange is aiming for continued employment until the legal dispute has been finally concluded.