The demonstration, organised by the LCGB and the OGBL unions, is scheduled to begin at 11am at Luxembourg’s central train station. Protesters will march along Avenue de la Liberté, past the cathedral, and finish at Place Guillaume II, where speeches will be held.
While organisers expect as many as 10,000 participants, with the march expected to take around an hour, the timing and location have sparked frustration among city centre businesses. Many fear a significant loss in revenue on what would usually be their busiest day of the week.
“It’s a Saturday – our most profitable day”, said one city shopkeeper. “It’s already hard to get into town, and now we’ll lose even more customers.”
Others pointed out that recent long weekends and public holidays have already reduced foot traffic, and the protest risks further deterring regular market-goers.
Authorities have confirmed that the protest route will be closed to traffic from 10am, with the tram suspended between the Upper Town and the train station from 9.45am to 1pm. The underground car park at Place Guillaume II will also be inaccessible from 11.45am to 1.15pm.
Shuttle buses will be running to assist demonstrators in reaching the event.
Mayor Lydie Polfer urged residents and shoppers not to be discouraged.
“There’s no reason not to come to the city”, she said in an RTL interview. “People can use public transport or arrive early and park further away, then use the bus. Services will run right up until the last minute.”
Polfer also responded to traders’ concerns:
“If large numbers of people come into the city – whether for the protest or shopping – they might take advantage of the great deals on offer afterwards.”
Francis Lomel, a leading figure in the LCGB, described the mobilisation as a landmark moment for Luxembourg:
“We looked to our neighbours like Germany to see how such demonstrations are done. There’s no shame in what we’re doing.”
He also confirmed that the route, usually a 14-minute walk, is expected to take around an hour with the crowd size anticipated.
The city will implement high-level security, with key intersections and streets along the route blocked off using vans and lorries. Protesters will be accompanied by trained security personnel to ensure the demonstration remains peaceful and focused on the unions’ key messages.
RTL.lu will offer live updates from 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, including a dedicated radio broadcast from 10:30 a.m. until the end of the event. Journalists embedded with the procession will provide coverage of the speeches, background analysis, and reactions from participants and onlookers.
For full information on traffic restrictions, parking options, and alternative transport routes, visit the City of Luxembourg’s official website.
