Verdi head Frank Werneke has announced plans for protests against what he describes as creeping cuts to social welfare benefits. Speaking to the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, he confirmed that the union is preparing actions regarding the health reform, stating that his allies and the union alliance will be making frequent announcements in the coming weeks and months. This alliance, which represents 20 million people comprising various trade unions and social welfare organizations, forms the backbone of their planned demonstrations.
While praising the federal government’s measures-specifically the €500 billion special fund, the federal tariff loyalty law, and the stabilization of pensions through 2031-Werneke voiced sharp criticism of other policy directions. He argues that a concerted attack on nearly every facet of the social state is underway, an effort he attributes to the employer associations. These threatened areas include employee rights, job protection, continued wage payment during illness, and core social securities like health care, long-term care, and pensions.
The union leader stated that portions of the governing coalition appear convinced that economic recovery can only be achieved by dismantling social safety nets and rolling back labor rights. Werneke specifically named Friedrich Merz, Katherina Reiche, Carsten Linnemann, and Jens Spahn as those holding this conviction, declaring the premise an “absolute misjudgment” and a “dead end”.
