There were demonstrations and rallies in several cities on the nationwide day of action for the welfare state and democracy. The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) organized the events. In 15 major cities, people walked under the motto "Hard Earned! Your Work. Your Health. Your Pension." onto the streets - including in Hanover and Bremen. The DGB speaks of a total of around 175,000 participants.
With the day of action, the DGB and its member unions wanted to send a clear signal against "social cuts and a policy that cuts benefits, restricts labor rights and increasingly shifts social risks onto employees, pensioners and their families." The unions demonstrated together for a strong welfare state, secure jobs, good working conditions and the protection of workers' rights.
Around 13,000 people in Hanover
According to the police, around 13,000 people came together in the city center for the rally in Hanover; there had already been a demonstration beforehand. Millions of people in this country relied on their protections in the world of work, security in old age, good health care and affordable care. These are not handouts, but rights that have been fought for, emphasized Ernesto Harder, Chairman of the DGB Lower Saxony.
According to the police, around 7,000 people marched through the city center in Bremen. When life becomes more and more expensive, public infrastructure falls into disrepair and concerns about social decline grow, frustration and disappointment arise, explained Christian Wechselbaum, regional manager of the DGB Bremen-Elbe-Weser. A weakened welfare state directly weakens democracy, and Germany therefore needs a policy change towards more social security and justice.
DGB boss Fahimi in Essen
“A strong economy does not come about if we reduce social security and further increase the burden on employees,” criticized Fahimi at the rally in Essen. "It comes about through investments, through innovations, through good work and through good wages that secure purchasing power." Modern infrastructure, reliable framework conditions and protection in international competition are needed.
“We are ready for change,” emphasized the union leader. "But not by abolishing our rights, reducing our social security and devaluing our life's achievements."
Ver.di boss Frank Werneke was satisfied with the turnout at the start of the rally in Frankfurt am Main. “In Frankfurt it is very, very impressive,” he said in the tagesschau. It is an impossible number of people to keep track of. He described the planned reforms as lies and deception. They are nothing other than a clear-cut of the welfare state and workers' rights.
Lower Saxony's head of government is calling for corrections
Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Olaf Lies (SPD) is calling for corrections to the federal government's reform package. This must be socially cushioned. "The vast majority of the reform package remains in place. But you can't just push your head against the wall and implement reforms for which there is no acceptance," Lies told the "Handelsblatt".
For example, Lies spoke out against abolishing the pension without deductions after 45 years of contributions. “Anyone who currently has 45 years of contributions should be able to retire earlier than someone without these years,” said the SPD politician. "It annoys me when I get the impression that it doesn't matter how long someone has been paying in. That's indecent towards people who go to work despite having less money."
The pension reform is being rejected by several state governments. Among other things, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) criticized the plans as unfair.
Schweitzer: Reforms must be fair
The deputy SPD chairman Alexander Schweitzer is also calling for changes to the reform course of Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU). “For Friedrich Merz, reforms mean that growth can only come about through cuts in the welfare state,” Schweitzer told the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.” But reforms must be fair and everyone must make their contribution. "Instead, the Chancellor breathes the cold neoliberal spirit of the 1990s."
The DGB rallies under the motto: "Hard earned! Your work. Your health. Your pension" are taking place in 15 major cities, including Bremen, Hamburg, Leipzig, Magdeburg, Nuremberg and Stuttgart. Thousands of participants are expected. The Left Party is taking part in the campaign and, according to its own statements, wants to support it "with its own blocks, feeder demonstrations and speeches".
BDA accuses DGB of “ritual refusal to reform”.
Germany's employers are sharply criticizing the DGB's day of action. “The unions say no to almost every change,” said the general manager of the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA), Steffen Kampeter, to the German Press Agency. "You dream of the world of yesterday." Kampeter accused the DGB of “ritual refusal to reform”.
Everyone wanted secure pensions, good care and efficient health care, said Kampeter. "But demographics, skills shortages and international competition cannot be explained away."
