A German woman with 40 years of experience in the state of Saxony-Anhalt ended her professional career abruptly and against her will when she was fired. for refusing to work overtime. Two years later the courts have yet to decide whether it was justified.
In February 2023, schools in that German state were forced to work one extra hour a week to try to alleviate the shortage of teachers, to which Birgit Pitschmann refused, according to the newspaper. . “I’m not going to accept it,” he declared then.. Approximately two months after her first warning, she was summoned to the director’s office, where she was informed of her dismissal without notice for refusing to work.
Pitschmann was, and remains, certain that the hour would only have worsened her workload. “I don’t want to end up exhausted,” Pitschmann said. As a tutor, Pitschmann would have had to teach until 2:00 p.m. once a week, instead of 1:00 p.m. During that time, I would not have been able to cover the class of the classmate who was on sick leave, nor make up the canceled classes. “I would have worked even harder,” he concludes. now, according to the German media.
Pitschmann now confesses that “until the last moment” he hoped that they would refrain from doing so. I also would have liked more colleagues to show solidarity with their situation and protest against their dismissal, but they did not. Some parents did, but it didn’t help. Regarding the dismissal letter, he points out that one sentence was especially painful for him: “Due to failure to fulfill its obligations, “It is unreasonable for the state of Saxony-Anhalt, as your employer, to continue the existing employment relationship.”
“I worked at this school for 20 years and suddenly they didn’t let me in anymore,” says Pitschmann. Even when he wanted to pick up his grandchildren he had to wait on the sidewalk, which he describes as “inhumane.” This 62-year-old woman doesn’t consider herself a rebel, but has not stopped fighting against his dismissal.
In April 2024 it appeared that he had reached an agreement with the state school authority. His dismissal was overturned and he was allowed to return to his old school. However, he had to teach the additional class, so a few days later Pitschmann revoked the agreement.
On September 5th of this year two teachers They successfully challenged the regulations before the Federal Administrative Court and thus managed to eliminate the extra hour of class. Pitschmann, however, was not successful, since to challenge the extra hour it had to be given. She, who opted for the most radical measure against the additional workload, was forced to limit herself to observing the trial.
The teacher appealed the decision and demanded compensation, as well as the possibility of getting her old job back. This verdict will be announced in the coming days.
