Tens of thousands of people took to the streets at rallies on the nationwide day of action for the welfare state and democracy. The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) organized the events. There were demonstrations and rallies in 15 major cities on Saturday, including Hanover and Bremen. «Hard earned! Your work. Your health. Your pension.” was the motto.
With the day of action, the DGB and its member unions want 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 participants 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.
Daniela Cavallo, chairwoman of the VW general works council, also appealed to employers and politicians: "All of you, all of us here, deserve appreciation, respect, decent pay for our work and good conditions that will keep you sensible and healthy until you retire," said Cavallo. Instead, there is now an attack on achievements that is an attack on everyone. No matter whether care, crafts, education, services or industry: the dependent employees kept the country running. “A correction is therefore not needed for our social standards, but for the course taken by company leaders and politicians,” emphasized Cavallo.
Restart of reform policy called for
The chairman of the industrial union IGBCE, Michael Vassiliadis, called for a restart of the reform policy: Of course the country needs reforms. It's about enabling growth, stimulating investment and securing jobs. For months now, politicians have consistently been sidetracking when it comes to crisis management. “In industry alone we are currently losing 15,000 jobs per month,” said Vassiliadis. What is being lost are good, collectively agreed jobs and added value that finance the community.
Bremen: Around 7,000 people move through the city
Around 7,000 people also took to the streets in Bremen. According to the police, the participants marched peacefully through the city center. 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.
The Bremen Left also called for social protest: “It cannot be the case that savings should be made for those who have worked all their lives and paid into social security,” explained state spokeswoman Anna Fischer, according to a statement. “Take cuts from the rich, not from us!” it was said.
