In total, the VAA currently provides 11 of 39 works council members in the joint works council of Merck KGaA, four of whom are exempt from their regular work. 
The VAA members are specialized in AT topics such as salary bands, global grading, performance management, personnel and talent development or mywork@merck. 
We provide our knowledge and experience to the works council in order to be able to adequately represent the employees. In addition, the VAA works council members are part of many works council panels, including the operative Works Committee (Betriebsausschuss), the Divisional committees (Bereichsausschüsse), the Economic Committee (Wirtschaftsausschuss) and the team responsible for any remuneration matters.
Your contacts: 

Your contacts: 
Sandra Schwebke (Chairwoman of the group) 
Dr. Gabriele Eismann (Vice Chairwoman)

Based on the Works Constitution Act (BetrVG), which is unique in Europe and has roots which go back 100 years, the interests of the collective and non-tariff (AT) employees are represented by the works council (BR) within the company. 

• The works council concludes company agreements (BV) with the employer so that the interests of the employees are considered.
• Works council members from the workforce are re-elected every 4 years. 

Representing the interests of non-managerial AT employees is only possible through the works council. Works councils have many information and consultation rights on: 

• Terminations
• Personnel planning and job security
• In the event of operational changes and as part of a reconciliation of interests due to transformations
• Occupational safety and environmental protection
• Designing the working world in projects such as "Future Ways of Working, FWoW)" or "Activity-based Working (AWB )" 
• Work processes and work environment 
• Promotion of vocational training 

The works council is the central regulatory body that not only has to ensure a fair balance of interests regarding the company owners, but at least equally in relation to the employee groups among themselves. 
As a VAA works council members, we usually belong to the group of AT employees and therefore know your concerns particularly well. That is why we, as VAA works council members, effectively bring your interests within this group of employees on the agenda of the entire works council committee. 

The works council's right of co-determination is of particular importance for non-exempt employees when determining the remuneration: 

• to ensure the same transparency as for employees covered by collective agreements after the creation of fair remuneration and target agreement systems

The employer Merck on the one hand and we as the works council on the other hand must do what employers' associations and Unions do in a collective agreement in the non-tariff area: 

• Formation of salary groups and determination of their value to each other

The VAA is the original AT interest group and VAA works council members stand for job security.