Frank Bsirske (born 10 February 1952) is a German trade unionist and politician of Alliance 90/The Greens who has been serving as a member of the Bundestag since 2021. From 2001 to 2019, he was the chairman of the United Services Trade Union (ver.di).
Early life and education Bsirske was born 1952 in the West German town of Heiligenstadt.Alfons Frese (7 February 2022), Frank Bsirske im Bundestag: Neustart mit 70 Der Tagesspiegel. He later studied political science at Free University of Berlin.
Chair of ver.di, 2001–2019 From 2001 to 2019, Bsirske served as the chairman of the United Services Trade Union (ver.di). In this capacity, he was also member of the board of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the president of UNI Europa.Tennille Tracy (24 April 2007), Blackstone Finds Itself in Labor’s Crosshairs Wall Street Journal.
In 2015, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Sigmar Gabriel appointed Bsirske to the government's advisory board on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).Advisory Board on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, press release of 20 November 2015.
Political career Bsirske was elected to the Bundestag in 2021, representing the Helmstedt – Wolfsburg district. In parliament, he has since been serving on the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour.
In the negotiations to form a so-called traffic light coalition of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Green Party and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) following the 2021 German elections, Bsirske was part of his party's delegation in the working group on labour policy, co-chaired by Hubertus Heil, Katharina Dröge and Johannes Vogel.Britt-Marie Lakämper (21 October 2021), SPD, Grüne, FDP: Diese Politiker verhandeln die Ampel-Koalition Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung.
In September 2024, Bsirske announced that he would not stand in the 2025 federal elections but instead resign from active politics by the end of the parliamentary term.Alfons Frese (17 September 2024), SPD-Politiker Achim Post kandidiert nicht mehr für den Bundestag Der Tagesspiegel.
Other activities Corporate boards Commerzbank, Member of the Sustainability Advisory Board (since 2022)Sustainability Advisory Board Commerzbank. Deutsche Vermögensberatung (DVAG), member of the advisory board (since 2021)Georg Buschmann (26 July 2021), Maschmeyers Erben: Ex-Strukkis packen aus Wirtschaftswoche. Innogy, member of the Supervisory Board (2016–2019)Innogy 2019 Annual Report Deutsche Bank, member of the supervisory board (2013–2021)Olaf Storbeck (14 March 2019), The eight men who will decide the future of German banking Financial Times.Cornelius Welp (14 September 2021), Frank Bsirske verlässt Aufsichtsräte – Nachfolge scheint klar Wirtschaftswoche. Postbank, member of the supervisory board (2010–2021)2010 Annual Report Postbank RWE, member of the supervisory board (2001–2021)Cornelius Welp (14 September 2021), Frank Bsirske verlässt Aufsichtsräte – Nachfolge scheint klar Wirtschaftswoche. KfW, member of the Board of Supervisory Directors (2006–2018)2006 Annual Report KfW.2018 Annual Report KfW. IBM Germany, member of the supervisory board (–2017) Lufthansa, member of the supervisory board (–2013)2013 Annual Report Lufthansa
Non-profit organizations German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND), member Tennis Borussia Berlin, member
Political positions In 2016, Bsirske criticized the German government's support for the EU's Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada.Hans von der Burchard (29 August 2016), Bitter German Socialist autumn threatens EU trade policy Politico Europe.
In 2022, Bsirske went against the party line and voted against the Scholz government's motion to change Germany's constitution to allow for a credit-based special defense fund of 100 billion euros ($107.35 billion) proposed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.Guy Chazan (3 June 2022), Germany approves €100bn fund to modernise its armed forces Der Tagesspiegel.
Personal life Bsirske has been married to Bettina Jankovsky since 1993.Hubert Gude and Herbert Weber (13 November 2003), Der harte Smarte Focus. From 2002 to 2021, the couple lived in Berlin's Charlottenburg districtHubert Gude and Herbert Weber (13 November 2003), Der harte Smarte Focus. before moving to Dahlem district.Alfons Frese (7 February 2022), Frank Bsirske im Bundestag: Neustart mit 70 Der Tagesspiegel.
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