STORY: Customers of the department store chain Galeria often faced closed doors on Monday, like here in Gelsenkirchen. Works meetings were about the current situation of the last large department store chain in Germany. The general works council and the company announced on Monday that 52 branches of the 129 department stores that are currently still in operation are to close. More than 5,000 people are at risk of being fired, the general works council said. Reactions from passers-by in Gelsenkirchen: “These are very important businesses that I can find in every city. Even in such mini-cities, yes, they have to be there. And I don’t think that’s okay. And that so many people are really being made redundant, it’s really a shame.” “Where should you still buy then, in the 1-euro shops? That’s not for us. And I find it sad that these shops are then closed one after the other.” The Verdi union announced that it would fight for every job. Stefanie Nutzberger, Verdi “What is crucial for us is what is the future like for the employees and for the employees who are on the possible closure list, who are on the list? Is it a black day, a black day for the people at Galeria “It’s tough for those who see ‘Oh the house I work in is closing, it’s sort of on the list. What’s critical for us is that we keep fighting with the workforce, with the active workforce, for every job, us.’ Look closely at the list and check the locations accordingly.” Galeria is now “setting the course for a secure future,” the company explained. 77 branches and around 11,000 jobs were retained. For the other branches, there is “no positive prospect of continuation in view of the general economic conditions, the local conditions and also after intensive negotiations with landlords and cities”. The affected branches would be closed in two waves on June 30, 2023 and January 31, 2024. For the loss of their jobs, the affected employees received a severance payment of twice the monthly gross salary, the general works council explained.