The National Committee of the Independent Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation (OGBL) approved the tripartite agreement on Tuesday morning, OGBL President Nora Back announced to the press. On Tuesday afternoon, the General Confederation of the Civil Service (CGFP) also approved it, meaning that all three trade unions will support the agreement.
OGBL representatives declared that their demands had been fulfilled: the previous agreement from March is "off the table", the wage indexation system functions as normal again, and the new agreement includes measures that will mitigate the high inflation. The OGBL feels strengthened in its position after its refusal to support the previous agreement, Nora Back added.
The OGBL President stated that she can understand the criticism that the energy price cap is not socially targeted enough but stressed that there was no time to draft more targeted measures. Back explained that the OGBL insisted that the cap on gas prices be introduced as soon as possible, ideally in October. According to Back, the government told the trade union that this would not be possible if the measure is to be socially targeted. By supporting a general price cap, the social partners also avoided lengthy discussions about specific criteria, she explained.
The Luxembourg Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (LCGB) already approved the agreement on Monday. The General Confederation of the Civil Service (CGFP) approved it shortly after the OGBL, meaning that all three trade unions back the agreement.
The agreement resulting from last week's tripartite meeting between trade unions, employers, and the government in the context of the energy crisis is due to be signed this week.
