Former mayor secures court victory over reduced salary for women
In the German state of Baden-Württemberg, the remuneration of mayors is regulated by the communal salary law, with the city council deciding on the classification. The state follows federal laws that promote gender equality and prohibit discrimination in pay, including for public officials like mayors.
The General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) at the federal level mandates equal pay for equal work regardless of gender. Baden-Württemberg, too, has its own state-level regulations and public service laws ensuring non-discrimination.
However, there is no specific information about the laws and regulations in Baden-Württemberg regarding equal pay for mayors of different genders, particularly in relation to the Janette Fuchs case. The former mayor of Todtmoos, Janette Fuchs, achieved a court victory in the fight for equal pay, but the details of the case are not widely documented in accessible public sources or legal databases.
Fuchs, who believes there are still cases of unequal pay in the public service, recommends advertising mayoral positions with the decided pay grade to avoid potential legal disputes in the future. The Administrative Court of Freiburg ordered the municipality of Todtmoos to pay Fuchs more than 36,500 euros in damages and a compensation of 7,000 euros, but the court has allowed an appeal to the Higher Administrative Court of Baden-Württemberg.
Mayors in Baden-Württemberg are usually classified into two salary groups, depending on the population of the city. Upon re-election, the higher pay grade automatically applies. The classification should be based on objective, office-related evaluation.
The Transparency in Remuneration Act, a federal law, provides employees with the right to information about remuneration and is intended to support women in asserting their claim to equal pay. Jörg Düsselberg, Fuchs' lawyer, has previously successfully fought for the former mayor of Müllheim, Astrid Siemes-Knoblich.
It's worth noting that Fuchs states that equal pay for equal work should be self-evident, not something that needs to be fought for in court. She also mentions that between the suspicion of discrimination and the lawsuit, only eight weeks may pass, according to Düsselberg.
In the absence of comprehensive information about the Janette Fuchs case, it is recommended to consult official Baden-Württemberg government publications, legal databases, or court decisions related to the case for authoritative details. The municipality of Todtmoos will make a statement when a written judgment is available. Additionally, two other mayors have reported cases of potential discrimination too late.
- The Science workplace-wellness and health-and-wellness sector advocates for equal pay for women in public service, as demonstrated in the Janette Fuchs case in Baden-Württemberg, where Fuchs fought for and won equal pay as a mayor.
- In light of the Janette Fuchs case, it is crucial for women's health to ensure transparency in pay grades for mayoral positions, as per the Transparency in Remuneration Act, to avoid potential legal disputes and promote equal pay in the workplace-wellness and health-and-wellness domain.
