On Saturday afternoon and in the context of the confederation's 100th anniversary, the president of the Luxembourg Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (LCGB) was a guest on RTL Radio.

Patrick Dury, a former worker in the steel industry, started by honouring the late Joseph Kinsch, who passed away on Thursday, as "an excellent manager." Dury described Kinsch as "someone who was ready and able to reform the steel sector without letting anyone go."

Kinsch is a "role model for all employers" because he recognised that workers are a "valuable part of a company that must be cared for," according to Dury.

The president of the LCGB said he was satisfied that the latest tripartite meeting resulted in an agreement that was endorsed by all three trade unions.

Nonetheless, the LCGB maintains that the March agreement delivered on its promises. While it was unfortunate that the Independent Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation (OGBL) did not support this first agreement, Dury pointed out that "at least" the trade unions did not throw around accusations in public, "as some may have feared."

"We are currently in the worst crisis since World War II," Dury stressed, "and this just after a pandemic."

According to the LCGB President, it is "difficult to say how long the current tripartite agreement will last in these uncertain times." For this reason, it is "a good thing" that the agreement includes a clause requiring the social partners to reconvene if the situation worsens.

Read also: Tripartite - The Luxembourg social model

According to Dury, the money put forward by the government is "primarily intended to help people with their energy bills in a very short amount of time and suppress inflation."

Dury responded to criticism that the agreement is not sufficiently targeted by pointing out that the increase in the minimum wage, the energy bonus, and the tax credit all directly benefit those with the lowest incomes. Those who criticise the aid as too broad "should come forward and say what they would have done differently," Dury argued.

In terms of taxes, the LCGB President appreciates the announced increase in the tax credit for single parents but reiterated the trade union's demand that the tax table be adjusted to account for inflation. Dury suggests "doing something about the top tax rate" to fund such a project.

The head of the LCGB also reiterated that his trade union will not support any type of staggered wage indexation system because "social policies should be implemented through taxes, not the wage indexation system." The index, according to Dury, "guarantees social peace" in Luxembourg.

It is up to politicians to create the necessary conditions to entice companies such as ArcelorMittal to continue to invest in the Grand Duchy, the LCGB President stated. Dury considers the fact that Google appears unlikely to establish a data centre in Bissen to be a "disaster."

Although the LCGB was historically always close to the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) and is based on Christian social ethics, Dury stated that "it is clear today that trade union work is incompatible with party politics."

As a result, Dury stands by the rule that no trade union representative should run for political office. As previously announced, Patrick Dury intends to lead the LCGB until 2025.

He stated that his current position allows him to "do the best for the people," and that he is not interested in other positions. Dury does not rule out standing for re-election in 2025.

For next year's elections, the LCGB does not want to endorse any party in particular. The LCGB intends to introduce an app next year in order to be more accessible to its members. However, paper ballots will still be used in the next round of social elections.

As for reduced working hours, the trade union says it is not satisfied with what is on the table so far. The ministry has "merely commissioned a study." The LCGB would be ready at any moment to negotiate a general reduction in working hours, Dury stressed.

Dury also believes that the "right to disconnect" should be incorporated in labour law, and that so-called "platform work" should be more clearly defined. The trade union seeks further discussions on this topic with Minister of Labour Georges Engel "before the elections."

Regarding the situation at Luxair, Dury said that there are currently a number of solutions on the table. Negotiations are ongoing and the goal is to find "the first concrete solutions." The LCGB also has faith in the mediator, Robert Biever, who was tasked with negotiating between the various parties.