At its annual Conference of Committees, the General Confederation of the Civil Service (CGFP) reviewed the past year, offering strong criticism of both the government’s pension reform and the deteriorating state of social dialogue.
CGFP Secretary General Steve Heiliger opened his address by declaring the union’s opposition to “any privatisation attempts of public services”. He emphasised that civil servants are “proud” of their status and are prepared to defend it “by all means”.
Heiliger reiterated the CGFP’s longstanding position that pensions were inadequately debated during the last election campaign. He characterised the government’s subsequent focus on pension reform as an act of “political dishonesty”.
The Secretary General further criticised the conduct of recent social talks, noting that certain proposals were dismissed from the outset. He pointed specifically to the rejected idea of abolishing the social contribution cap for the private sector. “Is it not time to demand that big business also assume responsibility?” he asked. Heiliger argued that viable proposals to ensure the pension system’s sustainability exist, but require political courage to be considered.
The CGFP also opposes elevating the role of private supplementary pension schemes. Heiliger stressed the union’s commitment to strengthening the state pension system and its firm opposition to “private companies that are already investing heavily in advertising profiting from the situation”. He warned that the government’s current measures represent only “the first step” toward a more fundamental overhaul of the pension system.
While the CGFP commended Finance Minister Gilles Roth for his collaborative approach in preparing the tax reform – especially compared to the recent social talks – the union criticised the proposed 25-year transition period for couples currently in tax class 2 as insufficient.
The CGFP’s central tax demand remains the adjustment of tax brackets to inflation. Heiliger highlighted the risk of “bracket creep” (occurs when inflation and wage growth push taxpayers into higher income tax brackets, even if their real purchasing power remains the same or declines), reiterating the union’s call for automatic, permanent inflation adjustments tied to wage indexation. According to the CGFP, this measure is essential for the long-term protection of purchasing power. “Anything else would be the equivalent of hidden tax hikes – and that’s unacceptable”, Heiliger stated.
The CGFP secretary general also directed sharp criticism toward Minister of Health and Social Security Martine Deprez, extending his disapproval beyond pensions to her healthcare policy. The union specifically lamented the establishment of the Medicines Agency within the Logistics and Purchasing Centre, which is to use a private-law recruitment process to offer higher salaries to attract highly qualified personnel. The CGFP views this as an “unacceptable” privatisation of core state functions. “Because let’s not delude ourselves: this gradual privatisation will lead to a two-tier healthcare system in the long run”, Heiliger warned. He emphasised that the CGFP has always advocated for universal access to “the best possible medical care.”
The union’s criticism was not limited to Deprez and Prime Minister Luc Frieden. It also targeted Education Minister Claude Meisch, arguing that he should have heeded staff concerns over logistical and personnel shortages related to the “Alpha” French literacy project.
