Backbreaking work in the state guild

Backbreaking work in the state guild

Automotive economy:Mr. Ringseis, you have been the Vienna State Guild Master for three years now. In the initial phase you not only received positive feedback about your efforts - what was going on?
Georg Ringseis:Shortly after I took over the office from predecessor Werner Fessl, there was a change in managing director in the state guild, and at the same time a long-standing employee was transferred. Suddenly 25 years of knowledge and experience disappeared. In the beginning, the big challenge for me and for the new regional guild manager Leonhard Palden was to put contacts with members, partner organizations and officials on a new basis. There is no question that activities such as the informative evening events were neglected. But we have now caught up with the backlog and for about a year we have been able to concentrate fully on the actual guild work again.

What does this consist of in detail?
On the one hand, there is the lobbying for private transport in the city, which is to be pushed back by ever new restrictions such as diesel driving bans, lane reductions or parking bans. Then the state guild master must take care of the training and further education of automotive technicians in view of the rapid technical progress and maintain the networks with authorities, motorists' clubs, vehicle and parts dealers as well as with WKO colleagues. He must also be able to listen to members with problems and offer solutions.

What successes can you look back on over the last three years?
For example, there is the nationwide change in apprenticeship qualification guidelines, which now balances out the East-West divide and improves the quality of the master's examination. We have also brought the master's examinations for body shop technicians back to Vienna and are now holding the apprentice competitions for automotive technicians and body shop technicians on the same day at the Vienna vocational school - a synergy from which everyone involved benefits. When it came to further training for members, I was able to successfully complete the Automotive Academy started by Werner Fessl together with the Austrian business publishing house, so that we now have well-equipped premises for the §57a training courses.

What challenges do you currently see coming your way?
Real back-breaking work means updating contacts with all members, including revising email addresses and contact persons. Then there are ongoing discussions with the authorities responsible for business licenses or operating licenses in order to strengthen the companies' positions. The shortage of skilled workers is also a challenge these days, which we want to address by increasing advertising for the profession. At the European level, access to telematically transmitted vehicle data is currently being regulated - the interests of independent workshops must be protected.

You are considered the most promising candidate for the position of Federal Guild Master, which will be filled this year. Are you ready for this?
I know these rumors (laughs) and I'm actually not averse to taking over from Federal Guild Master Friedrich Nagl. But experience has taught me not to go into office blindly. I run our small business with my wife, which will continue to be our livelihood. I will make a clear decision this spring.