Defending workers’ rights with 0% complacency: Thierry Sossong’s trade union vision at Foyer Luxembourg

For several terms now, Thierry Sossong has embodied a balanced yet demanding approach to the role of staff representative at Foyer Luxembourg, placing employee advocacy and information at the heart of his trade union action.

He entered union engagement out of conviction, and Thierry recalls that his motivation has always been clear: “I got involved to support and protect employees, by informing them as effectively as possible and by placing fairness and justice at the core of my action.”

In a country like Luxembourg, where the proximity between management and employees is strong, he stresses the need to find the right balance: “You have to be close to both workers and employers. It’s a constant balancing act. Providing information that is true and consistent with our values.”

Now in his third term, Thierry Sossong looks back on a journey built over time. His first term was a period of learning.

“I listened a lot, learned a lot. Being a delegate means understanding that you don’t only make friends. There are always opposing views, and you have to take responsibility for them.”

It was following enriching exchanges with former members that he decided to commit himself: “One day, delegates said to me: ‘Why don’t you join us?’ In Luxembourg, many people think first in financial terms. I wanted to defend a social vision.”

The major turning point in his commitment came during his second term, when he took over the presidency of the delegation in the midst of the Covid crisis. An unprecedented period marked by intense mobilisation: “I spent hours on the phone, on Teams, with Foyer’s Human Resources. We managed the crisis together.”

This cooperation helped establish a climate of mutual respect and a shared vision:

“For a company to function well, people need to be well, both mentally and physically. If employees are doing well, the company is doing well too. It’s a win-win.”

Beyond crisis management, Thierry highlights the substantive work carried out within the delegation: the introduction of new internal rules, monthly communication, and clarification of procedures. “Even with 50 delegates, there is always a small group of ultra-motivated people. The role of a delegate also involves a lot of psychology: listening, letting everyone speak, understanding what has been misunderstood.” His expertise in collective agreements, payslips, and internal regulations has now made him a reference point for many employees.

Committed to the spirit of inter-union cooperation, he emphasises that major advances are always collective. Among them are the introduction of a loyalty bonus in the latest collective agreement, as well as attractiveness bonuses: “In a context of competition to attract talent, these bonuses are essential to strengthen the attractiveness of the Luxembourg financial sector, especially in the early years of a career.”

What remains most rewarding for him are the expressions of recognition: “The thanks of everyone. Respect. Testimonies of appreciation.” For Thierry, negotiation remains above all a balance of power, in which ALEBA fully plays its role: “ALEBA must be part of the trade union bloc. It’s sometimes difficult, but our opinion matters.”

In a single phrase, he sums up his vision of trade unionism as follows: “ALEBA is a union of compromise. A WIN-WIN, for employers as well as for employees.” A philosophy that continues to guide his commitment and strengthen social dialogue for the benefit of all.