Mobilized for a clear and fair future, ALEBA opposes any unjustified reform and calls for genuine and transparent social dialogue with the government

Following the recent State of the Nation address by the Prime Minister, and in response to the near-immediate rejection of dialogue by some national trade unions, ALEBA firmly reiterates its commitment to a responsible, pragmatic, and rigorous approach to the reforms proposed by the government, particularly those concerning the pension system and working conditions.

While we share the deep concern of our union counterparts about the future of our social model, ALEBA's DNA is first and foremost to analyse, understand, and act on the basis of concrete and verifiable facts. Our union remains committed and proactive in seeking precise, transparent, and truly beneficial responses for employees and will never settle for a purely oppositional stance.

ALEBA deeply regrets the lack of transparency shown by the government in the reform process, especially regarding pensions. We deplore the minister's public announcements without having presented the full analysis of the proposed solutions discussed during the consultations. We have clearly submitted our proposals and concerns to the competent minister, but to date, no precise response has been received.

In this regard, ALEBA particularly insists on the following points:

• Pension reform: We firmly reject any unjustified deterioration of retirement conditions, particularly the arbitrary extension of contribution periods, which would disproportionately penalise younger generations. We call on the government to immediately publish the detailed calculations underlying its proposals. We advocate for an open dialogue around a viable mix of alternative solutions, such as abolishing the contribution ceiling, while ensuring that purchasing power is not unduly affected. We also support significantly strengthening pillars 2 and 3 by raising the ceilings on supplementary pensions, and implementing a fair tax on corporate profits boosted by AI and digital technologies.
• Social dialogue and Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs): ALEBA demands a legal guarantee for the effective participation of ALL unions with elected representatives in sectoral and at company-level CBA negotiations. We strongly support the EU objective of covering 80% of workers under CBAs and call on the government to deliver concrete, measurable steps to reach this goal.
• Single tax class: We remind the government of its coalition agreement commitment to establish a single tax class, a key promise to ensure real tax justice in Luxembourg.

Regarding the national mobilisation planned for 28 June by other unions, ALEBA believes that such demonstrations must be rooted in a clear, well-argued, and constructive vision. Therefore, ALEBA invites its fellow unions to inter-union dialogue aimed at supporting legitimate common demands for employees across all sectors. ALEBA will consult its Board of Directors and members through its internal democratic bodies to share the outcome of these inter-union exchanges and determine its position accordingly.

Finally, ALEBA remains firmly committed to social dialogue and strongly wishes to be included in the constructive discussions currently being undertaken by the Government with other responsible trade union organisations. We therefore officially call on the government to include ALEBA in these consultations, as a committed and constructive partner, so that our proposals may be heard, analysed, and integrated into the reforms under consideration.

True to its historic trade union mission, ALEBA will continue to defend the concrete and legitimate interests of ALL employees in the country with determination and pragmatism.

Roberto MENDOLIA             Nathalie MININNO

             President                Acting Secretary General