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Fight for the works councils: AfD politician aims at DGB territory
The “Zentrum-Nord” in Hanover, led by Jens Keller, aims to gain influence on works councils and strengthen right-wing positions.
Fight for the works councils: AfD politician aims at DGB territory
Jens Keller, a former Verdi trade unionist and current AfD politician, has opened the “Regional Office Center North-West” in Hanover. This is seen as a significant change in strategy as the new organization seeks to attack the DGB unions from outside. Keller himself announced that he wanted to halve the membership numbers of the “old unions”, which observers consider to be ambitious. According to [haz.de](https://www.haz.de/lokales/hannover/betriebsratswahlen-2026-afd-mann-aus-hannover-koennte-zur-galionsfigur-der-rechten- Werden-ONDNZGLMQNDI5AZMJ2MISIV22Y.html), the “center” has influence on 100 works councils nationwide, but this is considered excessive will.
In the last federal election, 38 percent of workers voted for the AfD, which significantly increases the potential of the “center”. The upcoming works council elections in 2026 should be used specifically to symbolically win seats in important companies using right-wing lists. The “center” sees the DGB unions as opponents and tries to undermine their legitimacy.
Criticism and accusations against the “center”
The organization operates primarily in the automotive industry and has also taken a position against the ban on internal combustion engines. Members of the “Center” rarely appear in public at work, but they rely on legal action against democratic works councils and existing unions. According to the sociologist Klaus Dörre, the “Center” is a front-line organization for the AfD that tries to anchor new arguments and ideologies in the companies.
In a further step, the “center” tried to establish itself in the nursing sector during the Corona crisis, but was only moderately successful. Worrying are the roots of the “center,” which are anchored in the neo-fascist, violent right; Although this is disputed by members, it causes mistrust. Oliver Hilburger, the chairman of the “Zentrum” in Stuttgart, is said to have connections to the neo-Nazi scene.
Versatile appeal and social resonance
In order to reach a broader constituency of voters, the “Center” is also trying to integrate migrant candidates into its ranks, while at the same time stirring up anti-migrant sentiments. Critics point out that the AfD and the “Center” portray the integration of migrants as more difficult if too many people arrive in Germany.
Employees in the auto industry and the care industry are increasingly concerned about the future. Right-wing populists like the “Zentrum” appear to be taking targeted action against the established unions IG Metall and Verdi. The organization describes itself as an “alternative union” and has published a video on its homepage in which Oliver Hilburger promises to organize people and employees who are ready to break new ground. An essay on the website is entitled “Works Council Benefits – Felt in the System”, which underlines the critical attitude towards traditional trade unions, as sueddeutsche.de states.