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Trade unions in Luxembourg are uniting in response to a recent proposal from Labour Minister Georges Mischo that would allow employers to negotiate collective agreements directly with employees, bypassing union involvement.
The Independent Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation (OGBL) and the Luxembourg Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (LCGB) convened on Monday afternoon at the Chamber of Employees to discuss their response to a recent proposal by Minister of Labour Georges Mischo. The proposal would permit employers to negotiate collective agreements with employees in the absence of trade unions.
In light of Mischo's proposal, the LCGB and OGBL aim to establish an action plan by early November. For now, the unions plan to inform the public about the situation and consult their delegates to prepare a comprehensive dossier, said LCGB President Patrick Dury after the meeting. He emphasised that both unions are committed to addressing the issue together, a sentiment echoed by OGBL President Nora Back.
Last Tuesday, Minister Mischo met with social partners during a session of the Standing Committee on Labour and Employment. The meeting focused on a national action plan to implement a provision of a European directive aimed at ensuring adequate minimum wages across the EU. However, the meeting was overshadowed by the early exit of union representatives, who left in protest over their disagreement with the proposal. The unions argue that the preliminary draft of the action plan threatens social dialogue.
Tensions further escalated when it was announced on Friday that Minister Mischo had submitted a bill to extend Sunday working hours to eight. Back criticised this move, stating that it demonstrates Mischo's lack of commitment to meaningful social dialogue. She pointed out that Sunday working hours were a topic of discussion during the previous meeting of the Standing Committee, where the minister had indicated there would be further discussions before any legislation was introduced. "That's not what happened," Back noted.
In fact, this issue relates back to collective agreements. In the retail sector in particular, companies that want to open on a Sunday generally negotiate this with trade unions within the framework of a collective agreement. LCGB President Patrick Dury sees no justification for changing the current procedure.
He recalled that in July, the minister had promised to return with proposals, which he has yet to fulfil. "I wonder how we can still establish a basis of trust with this minister under these conditions," Dury lamented.
