German trade union central demands social justice in the current reforms of Merz

“ ANDwe're willing to change. We are willing to move this country forward together. But not at the expense of seeing our rights undermined, our social security reduced and the fruit of a lifetime of undervalued work,” said German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), President Yasmin Fahimi, in the framework of the day of action convened in 15 cities for decent work, a strong social state and a reliable pension.

In his speech in Essen (west), Yasmin Fahimi rejected the attempt to blame the workers for the economic situation, as well as the attacks on working hours, health, care and pensions, saying that he would not let what was built “over many years on social rights” and “conquered with much effort”.

“ A strong economy cannot be cut off in social security and the burden on workers is further increased. It can be achieved through investments, innovations, good jobs and good wages that guarantee purchasing power ", defended Yasmin Fahimi.

The trade unionist criticised the demands of flexibilising and extending the eight-hour working day and stressed that already today many workers are under pressure to obtain income, shift work and weekends, as well as permanent availability.

“ Those who weaken the law of working hours do not make work more productive. It makes it more harmful to health”, he said.

On the other hand, Yasmin Fahimi stressed that social security is not a gift, but something that the workers have achieved with their efforts, and stressed that those who reduce contributions, cutting benefits, transfer costs to the insured.

“ Our social security is not a safe deposit box the government can loot when they're short of funds. It's our money. It's our right. We conquered it with our own effort ", warned.

In this sense, in terms of health and care, Yasmin Fahimi claimed solidarity funding and care provision close to the place of residence, with good working conditions and wages according to the collective agreement.

Fahimi also defended the pension without cuts after 45 years of contributions, even if the retirement age has not yet been reached, which, until now, allowed insured persons with a particularly long old age to stop working at 63.

According to DGB, 17,000 people participated in the demonstrations and concentrations organised in Berlin, Bremen, Erfurt, Essen, Frankfurt, Fribourg, Hamburg, Hanover, Kiel, Leipzig, Magdeburg, Nuremberg, Rostock, Saarbrück and Stuttgart.

Many of the elements of the reforms announced by the Government of coalition between Conservatives and Social Democrats are rejected by broad sections of the population, who expressed their discontent at the polls in the recent regional elections of Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin, where the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, suffered a sharp fall and even remained outside a regional parliament.

After the elections, the leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) reaffirmed its loyalty to the government coalition and defended the need for reforms, although it stressed that they should be fair and count on the support of the population.

The co-chairwoman of the SPD and Minister of Labour, Bärbel Bas, stated in this regard that reforms should be subject to “a realistic assessment, on the one hand, and, above all, an assessment in terms of equity”, while the colliding of the Social Democrats and Finance Minister, Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, stated that “in both respects, the content of reforms” should improve.