The labor wing of the CDU has demanded that civil servants be included in the upcoming reforms before the coalition leadership meets with social partners at the Chancellor’s Office.
Dennis Radtke, the federal chairman of the Christian Democratic Working People’s Party (CDA), told the Süddeutsche Zeitung that he cannot envision reforms concerning pensions, care, and health that do not simultaneously incorporate changes for civil servants. He stressed that workers-particularly those in higher collective bargaining groups-should not bear the entire burden of the reforms while others remain unaffected.
Radtke challenged the federal government to clarify its intentions: “Is this solely about savings and benefit cuts, or is it about truly fundamental reforms? The suggestions currently on the table have so far been exclusively the former.” He argued that the focus must now shift to restructuring the systems for the future and ensuring that everyone contributes to this process. Consequently, he insisted that services currently not covered by insurance must be paid for consistently through taxes. Furthermore, Radtke called for the abolition of exceptions in inheritance tax and privileges related to real estate sales.
Radtke lamented that while labor costs continually rise and income from employment faces increasing strain, wealth concentration continues to grow. He stated that this trend must finally be broken. He warned that if the reform process fails to guarantee that everyone in the country contributes to fostering economic growth and securing social peace, it will be difficult for the political center in Germany.
In addition, Radtke requested that the social partner summit scheduled for Wednesday evening be used to explore new contributions from collective bargaining agreements regarding pensions and care. He advocated for the introduction of mandatory occupational retirement provisions. Radtke serves on the executive board of the CDU and is also a Member of the European Parliament.
