Ahead of the German Trade Union Confederation’s (DGB) congress beginning on Sunday, Verdi, the trade union representing the service sector, chief Frank Werneke issued a stern warning to the SPD regarding potential social cuts.
Speaking to the “Handelsblatt”, Werneke stated that the overarching message from the DGB congress would be clear: “There will be no acceptance of a course of social decline, even if it is hidden under any glossy program of reform debate”. He heavily criticized employer organizations and large segments of the CDU/CSU coalition (the Union), accusing them of daily escalating demands aimed at eroding social welfare and diminishing workers’ rights. Werneke urged the SPD to stand against these trends, warning that if the party failed to do so, it would embark on a “course of self-destruction”.
The chief of the second-largest union after IG Metall anticipates fierce debate surrounding pension reform. He specified that supporting either capping pension levels or raising the mandatory retirement age would be “very precarious”. Given these stakes, he did not hesitate to suggest that political demonstrations are a viable option, noting that participation in this year’s May Day was noticeably higher than in previous years. Looking ahead, Verdi plans to organize further actions focusing on health reform in the coming weeks.