Susanne Neumann

Susanne "Susi" Neumann (29 May 1959 – 13 January 2019) was a German author, chairwoman of a labour union, and cleaner. She gained public recognition after an appearance on the German talk-show Anne Will.

Neumann is known for her direct speech, criticism of fixed-term employment contracts and advocacy for social justice.{{Cite web|url=http://daserste.ndr.de/annewill/archiv/Die-Gaeste-im-Studio,gaesteliste942.html|title=Die Gäste im Studio|website=Das Erste|language=de|access-date=2017-02-04}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.luebbe.de/bastei-luebbe/autoren/susanne-neumann/id_6062385|title=Susanne Neumann {{!}} Autorin|publisher=Bastei Lübbe|language=de|access-date=2017-02-04}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.rp-online.de/politik/deutschland/spd-star-susanne-neumann-spricht-ueber-ihren-mann-aid-1.5977894|title=Susanne Neumann spricht über ihren Mann: 'Zigarettenholer und Essenmacher'|language=de|newspaper=Rheinische Post|access-date=2017-02-04}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.zeit.de/2016/22/susanne-neumann-sigmar-gabriel-putzfrau-kritik-spd|title=Susanne Neumann: Eine reinigende Kraft für die SPD|last=Erk|first=Daniel|date=2016-05-19|newspaper=Die Zeit|language=de|access-date=2023-09-29}}{{Cite news|url=https://programm.ard.de/TV/Themenschwerpunkte/Dokus--Reportagen/Alle-Dokumentationen/Startseite/?sendung=2811119163968226|title=Rettet Susi die SPD? – Wie eine Putzfrau die Politik verändern will|last=Thenhaus|first=Andreas|publisher=ARD|date=2016-11-16|language=de|access-date=2023-09-29}} She is furthermore known for her talk with German vice chancellor Sigmar Gabriel about the crumbling middle class.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/spd-putzfrau-bringt-gabriel-in-bedraengnis-1.2985780|title=SPD: Putzfrau bringt Gabriel in Bedrängnis|author=Thorsten Denkler|date=9 May 2016|newspaper=Süddeutsche Zeitung|language=de|access-date=2023-09-29}}

She wrote a book about her concerns and experiences, which was published in 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.luebbe.de/bastei-luebbe/ebooks/politik-und-gesellschaft/frau-neumann-haut-auf-den-putz/id_6101023|title=Publisher's page for Frau Neumann haut auf den Putz|publisher=Bastei Lübbe|language=de|access-date=2023-09-29}} In 2018, Neumann supported the Aufstehen movement.{{YouTube|W9qtPNWJyaQ|Susi Neumann: »Kräfte bündeln, damit Druck entsteht«}} (in German, 6:05 minutes){{cite news|url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/susanne-neumann-susi-und-die-schwatten-1.4288372|title=Susi und die 'Schwatten'|type=obituary|author=Oliver Klasen|date=15 January 2019|access-date=29 September 2023|newspaper=Süddeutsche Zeitung|language=de}}

Life

Neumann was born in Gelsenkirchen and came from a civil servant family. She graduated with the Mittlere Reife school-leaving certificate and started an apprenticeship as home decorator. She abandoned this apprenticeship when she became pregnant and worked as a cleaner in Gelsenkirchen from 1981.

She was a trade unionist and joined the Building and Construction Union and became a union official on regional and federal commissions.{{cite web|url=https://igbau.de/die-ig-bau-trauert-um-susanne-neumann.html|title=Die IG BAU trauert um Susanne Neumann|language=de|date=15 January 2019|access-date=29 September 2023|publisher=IG Bauen-Agrar-Umwelt}}

Publications

In her book Frau Neumann haut auf den Putz – Warum wir ein Leben lang arbeiten und trotzdem verarmen (Ms. Neumann hits the nail on the head – why we work for a lifetime and still become impoverished) published in 2017, she and co-author {{ill|Andreas Hock|de}} outline social conditions in Germany, how its welfare state has degenerated and why people have multiple jobs but still do not earn enough money. Neumann also writes about her own experiences.

References

Category:1959 births

Category:2019 deaths

Category:People from Gelsenkirchen

Category:Social justice activists

Category:Social Democratic Party of Germany politicians

Category:German trade unionists

Category:Aufstehen

Category:German women writers

Category:German non-fiction writers

Category:German women trade unionists