Our works council
The works council represents the interests of all employees in accordance with the Works Constitution Act. The rights and duties of the works council include representing the employees towards the employer. For example, they monitor compliance with applicable laws, collective agreements and works agreements or receive and process suggestions from employees. They also take into account the special situation of severely disabled employees and other people in need of protection in the company or are responsible for promoting the integration of employees of foreign origin.
Reinhard Westhäuser
Chairman of the Works Council
Reinhard Westhäuser was born in 1967. In 1983, he began an apprenticeship at RENOLIT, which he successfully completed in 1986. In 1998, he joined the Works Council at the suggestion of his colleagues. In 2006, he became Deputy Chairman of the Works Council and was appointed Chairman of the Works Council in 2010. In 2011, he took on the role of Chairman of the General Works Council and also became a member of the Supervisory Board. This was followed by his appointment as Chairman of the European Works Council in 2015.
In his role as a member of the Works Council, he is active in various committees. These include the Remuneration Committee, the Works Committee and the Personnel Committee.
Outside of his professional career, he volunteers as Deputy Chairman of the IGBCE District Board and as an honorary labour judge at the Mainz Regional Labour Court.
In his free time, he enjoys reading, playing chess and riding a Harley Davidson. He is also a passionate fan of FSV Mainz 05.
Short and simple:
- At RENOLIT since 1983
- Chairman of the Works Council since 2010
- Member of the Supervisory Board since 2011
Thorsten Pieger
Deputy Chairman of the Works Council
Thorsten Pieger was born in Worms in 1977. After graduating from secondary school in 1993, he trained as a chemical technician at Röhm in Worms from 1993 to 1996. He has worked at RENOLIT since September 1997, first in the printing department, then in the paint room and later in Printing ink preparation area.
In 2011, Thorsten Pieger was elected Deputy Chairman of the Works Council. He is also a member of the General Works Council and a member of the European Works Council. Here he is active in the Remuneration Committee, Works Committee and Shift Committee. In 2022, Thorsten Pieger completed training as a coordinator for company integration management (BEM). Since then, he has been active as a BEM coordinator at RENOLIT.
Thorsten Pieger takes on a variety of voluntary tasks. He is involved in the district committee and the regional forum of the Mining, Chemical and Energy Industrial Union (IGBCE). As chairman of the Worms table tennis club, he manages the club and is committed to promoting the sport. He has also served as an honorary labour judge since 2022.
Outside of RENOLIT, he enjoys playing table tennis and poker. He is also married and has one child.
Short and simple:
- With RENOLIT since 1997
- Deputy Chairman of the Works Council since 2011
- BEM coordinator since 2022
Dennis Balzhäuser
Works Council member
Dennis Balzhäuser was born in 1983 and began his working career at RENOLIT in 2006 with an apprenticeship as a process mechanic, which he successfully completed in 2009. He already showed commitment during his apprenticeship and was twice elected to the youth and trainee representatives.
After his apprenticeship, he worked as a machine operator on the calender and in 2010 began a part-time training programme to become a state-certified machine technician. After successfully completing his training in 2014, he was also elected as a full member of the Works Council. One year later, in 2015, the Works Council elected him as an exempt member, meaning that he has held the elective office of 3rd exempt member of the Works Council ever since. In 2022, he also extended his qualifications by training as an occupational safety specialist at the German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the raw materials and chemical industry.
Dennis Balzhäuser takes on a variety of tasks on the Works Council. He is the spokesperson for the Safety Committee and a member of the Works and Remuneration Committees. He is also in charge of the youth and trainee representation (JAV).
In addition to his professional commitments, he also volunteers at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) as an examiner for the apprenticeship programme for machine and plant operators. He is also a member of the vocational training committee of the Rheinhessen Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
Outside of RENOLIT, Dennis Balzhäuser is a sports enthusiast and enjoys many different sports such as running, football, martial arts and squash. He is also a passionate DJ. He also enjoys spending time with his wife and son.
Short and simple:
- At RENOLIT since 2006
- Member of the works council since 2014