According to the CGFP, almost 500 people turned out outside the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday to hear the president of the civil service union attack the government’s method and results in the process linked to pension reform. Photo: CGFP

According to the CGFP, almost 500 people turned out outside the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday to hear the president of the civil service union attack the government’s method and results in the process linked to pension reform. Photo: CGFP

“Social peace has a price!” It was under this slogan that the CGFP organised a demonstration in front of the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday to denounce the government’s plans for pension reform. Around 500 people responded to the call from the civil service union, joined by its traditional partners such as the FGFC and Syprolux.

It was a symbolically chosen location, just a few metres from Parliament, to question elected representatives about the social consequences of the announced reforms. “We wanted to see which MPs would have the courage to show their solidarity with the citizens concerned,” said , national president of the CGFP, thanking the few MPs who had come to listen, in a statement issued at the end of this demonstration “disconnected” from that of the LCGB and the OGBL trade unions.

In addition to the CGFP-affiliated unions, long-standing partner FGFC and railway workers’ union Syprolux also responded to the call. Solidarity was also expressed in a press release by the European Economic and Social Committee (Workers’ Group), the European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CESI), the OGBL and the LCGB. The LSAP, for its part, sent a video message of support, explained the CGFP.

Troubled, Wolff denounced the government’s method, referring to a sham consultation. “After the , everyone understood that the discussions of the last few months were nothing more than a pseudo-debate,” he said. He deplored a biased process: unrepresentative polls, restricted participation, limited speaking time.

The union president also castigated the government’s refusal to dip into the €30bn Fonds de Compensation to relieve the pension scheme’s finances and worried about a possible diversion of these funds for military purposes. “It would be a major political faux pas.”

For the civil service union, the reform is not only unfair but also unrealistic. In a context of robotisation and ageing, the desire to extend working life is considered counter-productive. “It would reduce the recruitment prospects of young people.” The union also condemns the government’s inaction in the face of the explosion in poverty among the elderly. “Refusing to increase the minimum pension whilst proposing targeted aid amounts to turning pensioners into welfare recipients. It’s a no-go!”

A political divide

The CGFP is finally accusing the majority parties of sidestepping the debate during the election campaign, in order to impose an unpopular reform today, “The CSV-DP coalition is acting without a democratic mandate. It’s politically dishonest.” According to the union, systematically giving in to pressure from employers is jeopardising the balance of Luxembourg’s social model.

Despite its anger, the CGFP says it is ready to take part in the . But it warns that if there is no sign of openness, tougher industrial action will be envisaged. “The ball is in the government’s court. Social peace has a price. And that price is real social dialogue.”

This article was originally published in .

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