OGBL president Nora Back told the audience of around 700 people on Tuesday evening that the government had only managed to avoid major social setbacks over the past two years because unions had pushed back. Speaking alongside LCGB president Patrick Dury, she outlined the joint platform of the trade union alliance, called the Union des Syndicats.
The programme includes ten key points: reduced working time, clearer rules on rest periods, guaranteed breaks during the workday, clearer rules on reference periods and overtime, and 30 day of statutory annual leave, which is equivalent to six weeks.
These proposals were presented as a counterweight to what the trade union alliance described as increasingly radical demands from employers. According to the unions, employer organisations are pushing to weaken or abolish breaks and rest periods altogether, arguing that workers are not productive enough and should work more. The unions criticised this approach as one that prefers employees to remain quiet, compliant, and focused solely on generating profit.
LCGB president and co-president of the trade union alliance Patrick Dury stressed that the union’s list of demands puts workers and their families at the centre. He said the demands clearly serve the interests of employees by ensuring decent working conditions, but also benefit companies: in his view, employers often forget that satisfied workers who can balance professional and family life are essential for business success and long-term sustainability.
The trade union alliance also emphasised that healthcare will be its next major battleground, which they described as touching on “the most precious thing people have”.
