© RTL
On May Day, the Luxembourg Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (LCGB) welcomed its members to the traditional family event held in Remich.
In his address, LCGB President Patrick Dury touched upon both the upcoming European elections and the ongoing discussions regarding the Luxembourg pension system.
Dury's message emphasised the importance of commitment and cohesion in Europe, cautioning against the influence of demagogues, populists, and right-wing extremists. He urged voters to support parties dedicated to a united and socially inclusive Europe, while also warning against the normalisation of populism and extremism within political discourse.
Regarding Luxembourg's internal affairs, Dury addressed concerns surrounding the protection of the pension system, drawing a firm stance:
"The LCGB unequivocally opposes any notion of dismantling our solidarity-based pension system in favour of a basic pension supplemented by individual pensions. Not everyone has the means to afford individual pension plans and employees in the steel industry can tell you a thing or two about what promises made by companies are worth during economic downturns. Namely nothing, nothing at all!"
Dury also stressed the necessity of significantly increasing the minimum pension to ensure retirees can maintain a decent standard of living. He expressed the LCGB's commitment to collaborating closely with other nationally representative trade unions on this matter. Dury warned that there was a danger that the gap between the private sector and the civil service would widen even further.
He criticised proposals put forth by employers, particularly those from the Luxembourg Employers' Association (UEL), which he argued would substantially reduce pension benefits. Dury condemned what he described as a concerted effort to undermine public confidence in the existing pension system:
"The UEL is putting forth extreme ideas in the pensions debate that would virtually slash pensions in half, and a veritable barrage, almost a brainwashing of the public, is being staged to call our pension system into question. If you take note of all this, one conclusion is obvious: Namely, that our social model is being decisively called into question by employers."
To counteract this, Dury advocated for a tripartite that produces innovative solutions and in which all parties involved are willing to compromise. He warned that without such collaboration, there could be no social peace.
