Luxembourg's two public transport trade unions called a 48-hour strike in January 1998 in protest against the Government's intention to reduce their members' pensions.
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Luxembourg's two public transport trade unions called a 48-hour strike in January 1998 in protest against the Government's intention to reduce their members' pensions.
Since the lodging in mid-1997 of draft legislation designed to reform the civil servants' pension scheme (LU9706111F) - which aims to control rising costs while at the same time encouraging convergence of the public and private sector pension schemes - the Luxembourg public has been following negotiations between the public sector trade unions and the Government with considerable interest.
The largest public sector union, the General Public Sector Confederation (Confédération générale de la fonction publique- CGFP) is still negotiating with the Government, and a meeting described as offering "one last chance" has been fixed for 21 January 1998. The two main public transport 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) - are not affiliated to the CGFP. Nor are they directly involved in these negotiations, although their claims have been articulated in the presence of the Minister responsible for the public sector.
Delegates of both organisations have decided by a large majority to call a 48-hour "warning" strike for 19-20 January 1998, 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". The unions have also said that they are ready to step up their action should there be persistent intransigence on the part of the Government.
It is interesting to note that, apart from involvement in a one-day national strike in 1962, the last strike in this sector took place in 1949.
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (1998), Strike called in public transport, article.
