In January 1998, a two-day strike on Luxembourg Railways, protesting against proposed pensions reform, was supported by the great majority of employees.
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In January 1998, a two-day strike on Luxembourg Railways, protesting against proposed pensions reform, was supported by the great majority of employees.
The dispute which has been underway since the publication in mid-1997 of draft legislation designed to reform the civil servants' pension scheme - aiming to control rising costs while encouraging convergence of the public and private sector pension schemes (LU9802146N) - led to industrial action in Luxembourg Railways (Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois, CFL) in January 1998. CFL runs both rail services and part of the bus service.
The two main transport workers' unions - the National Federation of Luxembourg Railway and Transport Workers and Civil Servants (Fédération nationale des cheminots, travailleurs du transport, fonctionnaires et employés du Luxembourg, FNCTTFEL) and the Christian Transport Workers' Trade Union (Syndicat des travailleurs du transport chrétiens, SYPROLUX) - called a 48-hour "warning" strike at CFL on 19-20 January, in protest against "the Government's intention to launch a massive attack on the value of public sector pensions and cause a general reduction in acquired rights" (LU9801137N). Over 80% of the 3,000-strong workforce took part in the 48-hour strike - the sector's first since 1949 - and not a single CFL train or bus ran, while international services were diverted. The strike concluded with a demonstration in which the Government was again urged to withdraw the draft legislation.
As CFL employees are deemed to be "assimilated civil servants", the Minister of Transport referred to the absence of legislation permitting this category of workers to organise industrial action (LU9711127F) by simply appealing for a "calm and peaceful" strike.
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (1998), 48-hour strike on Luxembourg Railways, article.
