The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) expresses its full solidarity with the workers of Luxembourg and their trade unions as they prepare for a major national demonstration tomorrow, 28 June 2025.
The demonstration, organised by the trade union front, uniting the OGBL and the LCGB, comes in response to a series of alarming attacks on workers’ rights, including threats to collective bargaining, the erosion of social dialogue, increasing pressure on working time, and attempts to undermine the pension system.
ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch, who will speak at the demonstration in Luxembourg, said:
“The rights that workers in Luxembourg have fought for over generations are under threat. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our colleagues in the Front Syndical to defend collective bargaining, protect pensions, and ensure that social dialogue remains a cornerstone of democracy. This demonstration is not only about Luxembourg—it is about the future of fair work across Europe.”
Joining her in Luxembourg will be ETUC Deputy General Secretary Isabelle Schömann and Confederal Secretary Ludovic Voet, underlining the Confederation’s strong commitment to supporting national struggles that reflect broader European challenges.
The ETUC echoes the concerns raised by Luxembourg’s trade unions:
- Collective bargaining is being bypassed and weakened, undermining workers’ ability to negotiate fair wages and conditions.
- Social dialogue is being sidelined, with key decisions affecting workers being taken without proper consultation.
- Working time is under pressure, with proposals that risk increasing workloads and reducing rest periods.
- Pensions, a cornerstone of social protection, are being targeted by reforms that would delay retirement and reduce benefits.
These developments are not isolated. Workers are facing the consequences of a failed austerity paradigm that prioritises arbitrary fiscal targets over social justice. The ETUC firmly rejects the idea that essential rights like decent pensions, fair working hours, and strong collective bargaining be sacrificed.
Instead of imposing anti-worker cuts, governments must ensure that wealthy corporations and high-income individuals contribute their fair share through progressive and effective taxation. A fairer fiscal approach is not only possible, it is essential for a just and sustainable future.
The ETUC urges all workers and allies in Luxembourg and beyond to support the demonstration on 28 June and to continue the fight for dignity, justice, and solidarity.
