© Annick Goerens
Ampacet, a plastics manufacturing plant in Dudelange, has been engulfed in a strike since 27 November, marking the longest labour protest in Luxembourg since the tilers' strike of 1995, which lasted 28 days.
As the strike enters its 16th day, trade unions are intensifying criticism against management, accusing them of unilaterally terminating the collective agreement through the conciliation procedure. The trade unions contend that such actions, occurring at a time when the company is reaping substantial profits, indicate a lack of genuine social dialogue and a refusal to engage in constructive negotiations.
Luxembourg law places no restrictions on the duration of a strike, making financial resources a crucial factor for sustaining the protest, as strike days are not compensated by employers. Trade unions, however, dispose of a "piggy bank" — a strike fund financed by a portion of members' dues — to support striking employees. Recent disclosures by the trade unions indicate that €25,000 has already been contributed to the solidarity fund, providing employers with an indicator for estimating the strike's duration.
The articles of association of the Independent Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation (OGBL) provide for compensation for striking employees, but this does not equate to full pay. For this reason, the OGBL has already demanded that the Ampacet management compensate strike days as regular workdays.
Earlier this year, the trade union already emerged victorious from a strike at Cargolux. In the Ampacet case, an appeal for solidarity and donations has been launched. The OGBL website reports that over 200 donations have been pledged.
Related
"We'll still be here at Christmas": Ampacet employees go on longest strike in Luxembourg since 1995
Strike at Ampacet: Management urges OGBL to exercise right to strike 'peacefully'
Ampacet: OGBL condemns 'unacceptable assaults on the right to strike'
Entrance blocked by protesters: Ampacet strike will continue "until the company makes a move"
Imminent strike at Ampacet Luxembourg: Unions decry 'declaration of war on all employees'
What are the conditions governing the right to strike in Luxembourg?
Luxembourg's constitutional framework enshrines the right to strike, positioned alongside trade union freedoms in Article 11 of the Constitution. However, this right is not an unfettered prerogative; instead, it is subject to strict regulation and tied to the concept of a "collective dispute," essentially a conflict pertaining to a collective agreement. The primary condition for initiating a strike in Luxembourg is the absence of reconciliation in the collective bargaining process.
For the civil service, distinct regulations come into play as certain services of national interest are mandated to continue functioning even during a strike. Historically, Luxembourg's trade unions adopted a periodic major strike strategy, aiming to conduct significant strikes at least once every decade to keep the population used to this form of collective action.
-> From slate mines to Cargolux: A look back at Luxembourg's history of strikes
Most of the time, the term "national strike" does not precisely apply in Luxembourg, as it would imply that a majority of the working population is participating. The more accurate descriptor is a major strike with national repercussions. The Grand Duchy has not witnessed a large-scale strike of this nature for over two decades, with most strike actions being sectoral or company-specific in recent times.
Nevertheless, Luxembourg's history is marked by a series of impactful strikes, tracing back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Strikes in the shale mines around Martelange in the 1880s and 1890s and labour unrest in 1916, driven by surging food prices and inflation outpacing wage increases, left a lasting imprint on the nation. While some of these strikes were marked by bloody confrontations, they ultimately played a pivotal role in securing recognition for trade unions and their ability to negotiate collective agreements.
Social tensions and economic uncertainties in 1921 triggered a major and tumultuous social conflict, eventually culminating in the establishment of professional chambers.
Fast-forwarding to the early 1940s, the great strike of August 1942 stands out as a notable moment when Luxembourg residents vehemently opposed conscription imposed by the Nazi regime. The 1950s witnessed strikes in steelworks and the mining industry, driven by the pursuit of shorter working hours — an era when the 56-hour workweek still prevailed.
The early 1970s were marked by strikes protesting downsizing in the steel industry and advocating for improved health, education, and housing policies. In 1982, a significant demonstration took place under the banner of "Hands off wage indexation!" In 1984, demonstrators mobilised against the government's plan to write off 28 billion Luxembourg francs in state debts to pension funds, an event popularly known as the "pension theft." The year 1998 witnessed a demonstration on Place Guillaume II, stemming from a civil service pension dispute that subsequently led to a new government coalition the following year.
While recent years have seen relative calm, a demonstration in 2009 drew 30,000 participants protesting against the social ramifications of the 2008 economic and financial crisis.
