The CDU has voiced strong criticism regarding the Deutsche Gewerkschaftsbund (DGB) planning a large demonstration against federal government policies before negotiators are scheduled to meet at the Chancellor’s office next week.
Dennis Radtke, head of the CDU’s labor wing, the CDA, told the news portal T-Online that organizing both negotiations and protests simultaneously sends the wrong message. While acknowledging that demonstrations are a legitimate tool within a democracy, he emphasized that social partnership thrives when parties dialogue first before mobilizing against each other publicly.
The CDU European politician stressed that concerning issues like pensions, care, health, and working hours, the country needs constructive solutions reached through dialogue, not new “trenches”. Radtke added, “If unions sit at the table in the Chancellor’s office, they should seriously utilize these discussions”.
According to T-Online, the DGB regional chapter in Berlin-Brandenburg is planning a major demonstration on June 27th to protest the federal government’s social reforms. It remains unclear what role the federal DGB will play, although Daniel Wucherpfennig, the Berlin-Brandenburg DGB chief, told the portal that the planning had been coordinated with the federal body. A flyer for the event also featured the DGB federal logo. However, the federal DGB has stated that neither mass mobilization through the federal union nor direct participation is planned.
This demonstration is scheduled for June 27th-before the government’s Pension Commission submits its report and before the coalition committee decides on the major reform package ahead of the summer break. The regional chapter stated that its goal is to bring several thousand people to the streets and forge a broad alliance. The Left Party is also already mobilizing support for the event.
