Why are we protesting for our rights on the 28th of June?
Trade unions have achieved significant advancements for workers, including the establishment of the eight-hour workday, minimum wage laws, and improved workplace safety regulations. They have also played a crucial role in securing paid time off, anti-discrimination laws, and protections against unfair dismissal. Furthermore, unions have been instrumental in advocating for social security, unemployment insurance, and the recognition of Labor Day.
We owe them a lot. However, our fight is far from over.
Megaphone’s radical bloc for the 8th of March 2025
On the 28th, trade unions and organizations are protesting against the government's current policies that endanger social justice, democracy, and solidarity in Luxembourg. At a time when global challenges are intensifying, our government and employers are dismantling the very foundations of our social model.
Pensions are under threat, with plans to raise the retirement age by up to five years and weaken the public, solidarity-based pension system—all while refusing to raise the minimum pension. People on the minimum pension are already at higher risk of poverty. The percentage of retirees at risk of poverty in Luxembourg has doubled over the past decade, reaching about 10.7% in 2023—and that risk triples if you're a woman.
Worker’s Strike Dudelange 1917
Workers' wages and rights are being attacked through efforts to undermine trade union powers and collective bargaining, jeopardizing salary conditions and the strength of social protections. Under the proposed changes for protest reform, mayors would no longer be required to respond to protest notifications—meaning silence would amount to an automatic denial. In addition, mayors would gain expanded powers to ban individuals from public spaces, handing them yet another tool to suppress protest and dissent. The reality is, their unwillingness to engage with protest organizers is already blatantly clear—these reforms would only make their repression official and easier.
The lack of care for people’s right to live in dignity is a consistent pattern with our current government. Let’s be honest: the politicians making these decisions don’t have the empathy to understand what it means to struggle financially. They’re more concerned with keeping employers happy—because, let’s not forget, many politicians, especially from CSV and DP, are either close to or are wealthy, problematic employers themselves. And we know how it goes—besties gotta help each other out (barf).
Jean-Claude Juncker in Parliament
But this is just one consequence of a larger issue. Our government is leaning into authoritarianism, and what better example to illustrate that than its response to Palestine. Luxembourg has had many opportunities to act—like imposing sanctions on Israel for its long list of war crimes—but has done nothing. Even in the smallest, most human act—like helping evacuate the family members of Palestinians based here (some even with Luxembourgish citizenship)—they have failed. The government has blood on its hands.
Now that I’m done trashing how racist and sociopathic our government is, I’m also calling out everyone who shows up to this march thinking only local politics matter. Everything I’ve just said proves we are all victims of the same system—except you’re lucky enough that bombs aren’t flying over your head because you live in Luxembourg. That’s privilege.
Trade unions have a responsibility to stand up against injustice, not only here, but internationally. As trade unionists, it is essential to mobilize in solidarity with the Palestinian people and support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, because the struggle of Palestinian workers is deeply intertwined with our global fight for justice, dignity, and workers' rights.
©Montecuz Foto
Trade unions globally are already leading the way: from dockworkers in Sweden, Greece, and Morocco refusing to handle military shipments to Israel, to unions in the US, Canada, and South Africa demanding an end to military funding and ties with Israeli arms manufacturers. These actions show that when unions mobilize, they can have real, material impacts. Our solidarity must be active and principled—not just in words, but through divestment, boycotts, and disrupting the systems that uphold apartheid. Just as we defend workers' rights in our own countries, we must extend that solidarity to Palestinian workers struggling under occupation, siege, and systemic oppression.
So yeah, don’t limit your political action to what you think “concerns” you. Deconstruct your racism, and apply your principles to every level on which the Luxembourgish government is enforcing oppression.
Nothing is stronger than the people’s will.
Free Luxembourg and Free Palestine!
©Kheel Center
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