VBE secures landslide wins in North Rhine-Westphalia’s education elections
The Association of Education and Upbringing (VBE) has secured strong wins in recent works council elections across North Rhine-Westphalia. The organisation took a clear majority in several key areas, including Solingen’s primary schools and multiple district governments.
Voter turnout reached 66%, with around 70% of ballots cast in favour of the VBE in many regions.
In Solingen, around 650 primary school employees elected an 11-member works council for the next four years. The VBE dominated the vote, claiming eight of the 11 seats. Jens Merten, the local VBE chairman, thanked staff for their support and pledged to continue working with dedication.
At the district government level, the VBE also performed strongly. The group won elections in Düsseldorf, Arnsberg, Cologne, Detmold, and Münster. Daniel Weber, a Solingen-based candidate, secured a seat on the Düsseldorf district government’s works council.
The VBE’s success extended to the main works council, where the organisation won nine out of 15 seats with roughly 20,000 votes. Their list was led by Jens Merten, Daniel Weber, and Saskia Degenhardt. Meanwhile, IG Metall gained representation by fielding the same three candidates in Düsseldorf’s main works council election.
While the VBE saw significant vote increases in secondary schools, gains were smaller in special schools, comprehensive schools, and grammar schools. Despite this, the group maintained its overall majority alongside the Teachers’ Association of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The election results confirm the VBE’s continued influence in North Rhine-Westphalia’s education sector. With strong representation in works councils and district governments, the organisation will play a key role in shaping policies for the next four years. The high voter turnout and decisive margins reflect broad support among education employees.
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