Luxembourg Unions Reject Government Negotiations, Push for Direct Dialogue

Tensions between Luxembourg’s main unions and the government remain high, with the OGBL and LCGB making it clear they will no longer take part in broad negotiation meetings, which they say have become meaningless. Instead, the unions are calling for bilateral talks on key labour issues.

“We will not go to the big negotiation sessions, where we are no longer listened to and where there is no negotiation. But we do not refuse bilateral dialogue,” said Nora Back, president of the OGBL. Discussions are expected with Labour Minister Georges Mischo (CSV) and Economy Minister Lex Delles (DP), although no date has yet been set. Employers will be received separately.

LCGB president Patrick Dury echoed this stance, stating that while the unions are stepping away from the CPTE (Standing Committee on Labour and Employment), they remain open to one-on-one meetings with government representatives. According to Back, the unions have already drawn up a detailed list of demands covering working hours, rest periods, holiday entitlements, Sunday work, and special schedules.

For the OGBL, these issues are “as important as pensions.” While the government has recently softened its pension reform proposal—reducing the increase in career length before retirement from several years to a maximum of eight months—Back dismissed this as nothing more than “crumbs.” She warned that the union base is still urging continued mobilization to resist government pressure.

Looking ahead, Back also voiced concern that pensions may once again come under fire in 2030, after the current reform takes effect. While she acknowledged that large-scale mobilization would be difficult at this stage, she did not rule it out: “We cannot mobilize on things vaguely announced by the government. But if it moves on the schedules, it will be a duty to mobilize again.”  
Read More: The OGBL and LCGB unions refuse to let this happen in Luxembourg - The essentials

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