Credit: LCGB
On the occasion of Labour Day on 1 May 2022, the LCGB trade union welcomed its members in person in Remich, Luxembourg, after past two years of addressing online in digital format.
The OGBL national president, Patrick Dury, said that the health crisis has weighed heavily on society and the pandemic has fundamentally changed the way of working and living together in Luxembourg. He noted that after almost eight decades of peace, Europe found in the midst of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and since 24 February, innocent women, children and men have been bombed, massacred and tortured by the Russian army. He extended solidarity with the Ukrainian people, in particular to those who have been forced to leave their country in order to save their lives. He welcomed Ukrainian refugees to Luxembourg and to rebuild their lives. He recalled that during the Second World War, a good part of the Luxembourg population had to flee, many to the South of France.
"Today we must show this same solidarity with Ukrainians" said Mr Dury and asked the Luxembourg government, and also Europe, to ensure that refugees from Ukraine can find a place in Europe and receive the support they need to rebuild their lives. The LCGB demanded that the Government do everything necessary so that Ukraine can defend itself against the Russian aggressor, not only by denouncing Russia, but also with more sanctions and support Ukraine also with weapons (i.e. lethal support). He noted that Europe can no longer have "normal" relations with Russia, at least until their aggression ends, the regime is replaced and President Putin, and all other war criminals, have met their just punishment. Mr Dury advocated that EU Member States have no choice but to invest in defence, whether at NATO or EU level, and provide with the necessary means to defend itself.
He added that the pandemic and war in Ukraine has led to unpredictability in economic, social and political development. He said that the inflation has continued, in particular due to soaring energy prices, and the security of supplies, particularly in terms of gas and other products, is also met uncertain times. He said that European Union (EU) must rethink and reorient its positioning in the world of changed circumstances, both in terms health and energy policies. CO2 taxes and trade in emission quotas are almost absurd, said the LCGB President, useless concrete solutions are offered to the European population.
In his speech, Mr Dury said that the LCGB demands the establishment of a European economic policy that allows greater independence for Europe and a fairer distribution of the wealth among the European citizens, and creation of new jobs within the EU. He argued that the European Pillar of Social Rights alone is insufficient, and demanded decent wages and pensions throughout Europe as well as effective social security for all European citizens. Moreover, every person in Europe should live decently from their salary or pension, he argued.
He emphasised that, alongside the human distress caused by the war, it is very likely that the EU is heading towards an economic recession. Moreover, many employees worry not only about their salary and purchasing power, but also about their job security in the current unpredictable times, due to loss of purchasing power as well as serious economic problems for the economy that would mean the end for many companies, therefore resulting in job losses. The LCGB is in favour of indexation and thanks to the decisions and agreements of the Tripartite agreement, jobs and living standards continue to improve.
He concluded with saying that the LCGB will continue to work in the interest of employees and retirees in Luxembourg, and evoked: "Long live Ukraine, which has a right to peace, freedom and to follow its path towards the EU".
Meanwhile, the OGBL trade union congregated at the Abbaye de Neumunster in Luxembourg-Grund, with around 2,500 members gathering (Police estimate; walking from Luxembourg-Gare to the Grund) to protest against the government's decision to postpone the 2nd automatic indexation this year (expected in August 2022); the first was implemented on 1 April 2022. At the Abbaye, OGBL president addressed the crowd and defended the union's stance on the Tripartite negotiations.
