Labor unions across Germany have called for relief measures for workers and announced resistance against cuts to the social system on Labor Day. At the central May Day rally of the German Trade Union Confederation in Nuremberg, DGB chairwoman Yasmin Fahimi warned on Friday against making employees "scapegoats" in light of the current economic crisis. Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated nationwide at union rallies for Labor Day under the slogan "First our jobs, then your profits."
Fahimi particularly sharply attacked plans to abolish the eight-hour workday. Without the protection of the eight-hour workday as a regulatory framework, "nothing other than the legalization of exploitation models" would emerge, as already visible in parcel delivery services or elsewhere, the DGB chief said. This would not make work more productive, but only unhealthier and more unsafe.
The federal government is planning an amendment to the Working Hours Act. Currently, working hours for employees are limited to eight hours per day. In exceptional cases, an extension to up to ten hours is possible. According to plans by the Union and SPD, a weekly maximum working time should apply in the future.
In addition, the DGB chief spoke out against cuts to social spending and pensions. "As long as in our country just two super-rich families possess more wealth than 42 million German citizens, there is really no reason for discussions about sacrifice downward." Workers would also not accept "pension theft." Fahimi announced resistance - "in the workplaces, in the tariff rounds, on the streets." Workers need tax relief, "not the top earners, not the super-rich."
Similarly, the chairman of the Industrial Union of Mining, Chemical, and Energy Industries (IGBCE), Michael Vassiliadis, warned of a "socio-political rollback" in Germany. It is "an impertinence with what audacity our hard-won employee rights are being questioned in public debates," he declared. Attacks on working time regulations, occupational safety, or social security systems would meet with the determined resistance of the unions.
The federal chairman of the Industrial Union of Construction, Agriculture, and Environment (IG BAU), Robert Feiger, said in Berlin with regard to the recurring pension discussion: "Whoever demands that people work until 67 or longer has no idea of the reality of hard work." What is needed in addition is a strong statutory pension.
For around 40 percent of employees, this is "the only income in old age," Feiger also said with reference to statements by Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), according to which the statutory pension is at best a basic safeguard.
The chairwoman of the Education and Science Workers' Union (GEW), Maike Finnern, also warned of "social cuts." Against the backdrop of the political and economic situation in Germany, they could affect areas such as education, which urgently need more support. "That is a swan song for original tasks of the welfare state."
Labor Day is a public holiday in Germany and many other countries. It is the most important day of action for the unions. According to DGB figures, more than 366,000 people participated in a total of 413 events and rallies of the German Trade Union Confederation nationwide on Friday.
Federal Minister of Labor Bärbel Bas (SPD) wrote on the online service Facebook: "Fair wages, employee participation, safety and health in the workplace are non-negotiable. Period!" In addition to the union events, numerous other demonstrations were announced on Friday, in Berlin for example the traditional Revolutionary May Day demonstration. Left-wing rallies were also planned in other cities such as Leipzig and Stuttgart.
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