OGB-L calls off general strike

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Having obtained satisfactory concessions on private sector pensions, Luxembourg's OGB-L trade union confederation announced in September 2001 that the general strike it had planned for 9 October had been called off.

At a press conference held on 10 September 2001, the president of the Luxembourg Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (Onofhängege Gewerkschafts-Bond Lëtzebuerg, OGB-L) announced that the general strike planned by the union confederation for 9 October 2001 would not now take place.

The OGB-L national committee had voted unanimously in favour of mounting a general strike at a meeting held on 21 November 2000, after hearing reports on country's economic and social situation and developments in recent months (LU0012154F). The announcement had mainly been provoked, according to OGB-L by the government's attitude, which it described as a kind of 'dictatorship' aimed at promoting a two-tier society. OGB-L criticised the government's position of maintaining a high employee contribution level for sickness fund insurance, and opposing an immediate rise in pensions in the private sector,

This decision to call off the general strike was mainly justified by the satisfactory results that OGB-L had obtained from a round-table meeting on pensions held in 2001 (LU0108175F). Most of the union's demands were met, and private sector pensions will accordingly rise by 7% on average. A compromise has also been reached on the OGB-L's demands with regard to disability pensions.

'Our mobilisation campaigns have not been in vain,' said the OGB-L president. He added that his 51,000-strong union would continue its mobilisation and awareness campaigns. The OGB-L president also stressed the need to modernise trade union legislation: 'Nowadays, mergers and company relocations are common occurrences. We need appropriate legislation that clearly define trade unions' room for manoeuvre.'