OGBL slams PM's address as break with social dialogue

In an initial reaction to Prime Minister Luc Frieden's State of the Nation address delivered Tuesday, Nora Back, president of the Independent Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation (OGBL), expressed disappointment, stating that at no point had the government made any genuine effort to accommodate the concerns of the trade unions.

Speaking to RTL, Back characterised the speech as signalling a break with long-standing traditions of social dialogue in Luxembourg, particularly the tripartite model involving government, employers, and trade unions. While it was already clear before Tuesday that relations were strained, Frieden's remarks confirmed the need for people to mobilise and demonstrate on 28 June, she said.

Referring to Frieden's statement that dialogue does not automatically imply joint decision-making, Back warned that this undermines decades of consensus-building. The tripartite model, she argued, was never about one side merely listening before making unilateral decisions.

Rather, it was about genuine negotiation on equal footing and compromise – something the current government appears to be abandoning, she stated.

Read also: Opposition unimpressed by PM's State of the Nation address

Concerns over Sunday work and collective bargaining

Frieden attempted to reassure the public by stating that Sundays would not become regular working days. But, according to Back, this is misleading.

She argued that previous laws only allowed Sunday work under strict conditions and through collective agreements. The proposed changes, she warned, would open the door to Sunday work becoming the norm, bypassing trade unions entirely and eroding workers' protections.

This shift, she said, not only removes the unions' ability to negotiate sector-specific agreements but also normalises work on what was previously protected time off. She also rejected the government's assertion that employees could simply opt out of Sunday work, saying that such a choice is unrealistic given the power dynamics in many workplaces.

Another major concern is the ongoing dispute over collective bargaining rights. According to Back, the Prime Minister reiterated vague assurances already made by Labour Minister Georges Mischo seven months ago, without offering concrete guarantees.

There is still no commitment, she said, that unions will retain exclusive rights to negotiate and sign collective agreements – raising fears of weakening union influence. She further argued that Frieden's address only reinforced the unions' earlier concerns, adding that the lack of concrete proposals from the government was both disappointing and telling.

Call to action

Back also criticised the government's position on pensions. What stood out most, she said, was how openly Frieden revealed that people would need to work longer in future to receive their pensions. She noted this would primarily affect younger generations, with the effective retirement age set to rise.

In her view, this marks a clear departure from the principles underpinning Luxembourg's current pension system.

Back also criticised the government's approach to supporting those close to the poverty line, noting that offering yet another form of social aid strays from the fundamental principles of Luxembourg's pension system. Once again, she argued, the public is being presented with a fait accompli, without meaningful consultation.

In conclusion, Back stated that Tuesday's speech confirms the need for trade unions – particularly the OGBL and the Luxembourg Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (LCGB) – to continue working closely together in defence of workers and pensioners. She reiterated the call for mass mobilisation and national strike action on 28 June.

Parliamentary debates on the State of the Nation address bega at 9am on Wednesday and will continue throughout the day. The proceedings are broadcast live on RTL Today.