Interview with Manfred Monjé, secretary of the EWC at Hilton

Question: Was the take over through Blackstone a surprise for the works councils?

Monjé: We did not expect something like that, it came as a surprise also for the European management. We had a preparation meeting of the German delegation in February 2007 because the regular EWC meeting was called for March/April 2007. This one was cancelled, however, because the Europaen management wanted a little bit more time after the carrying out of the sale of Scandic to check the new facts of the legal relationships. Between May and June 2007 there was a strange silence which, however, never ever indicated such a drum beat like the Blackstone take-over.

Question: How has the EWC behaved?

Monjé: The EWC for certain wasn't in the focus of the management. And the EWC agreement hasn't given us many action possibilities there either. In the meantime I had tried repeatedly both a meeting of the steering committee and an extraordinary EWC meeting, but everything was however in vain. There was no information and the management took practically no more decisions until the transaction was dealt. We missed a competent contact person.

Question: The new owner pursues which strategy?

Monjé: For Blackstone it is all about expansion and increase in value of its participation, on the other hand, Hilton is charged by immense debts for now. The high selling price cannot be gained over the operative business. All reduction potentials on-site in the hotels are already exhausted. It probably looks that way, that the entire tourism industry is in the visor of Private Equity capital and this was certainly not the last deal of that kind. The very future markets!!!

Question: What shall works councils do?

Monjé: We can hardly keep pace with the fast sequence of finance transactions. In my opinion works councils must deal realistical with the matter and try to influence according to occupation and employees. I have taken part in a seminar for European works councils from the tourism industry some days ago where dealing with finance investors played a large role. It is the task of the trade unions to provide suitable tools for the European works councils. Information portals in the Internet are also helpful as they were just developed by the European trade unions in the tourism.


Manfred Monjé is the chairman of the works council in the Hilton hotel Mainz, Germany and a member of the trade union NGG. He belongs to the EWC since 1996 and has taken over the task of the secretary in 1997, the chairmanship lies with the employer.


Manfred Monjé was interviewed by Werner Altmeyer on October 30th, 2007.