French labor union ver.di supporting demonstrations against proposed social cuts in France
Ongoing Protests in France: German Unions Show Solidarity
Protests in France continue to dominate the headlines, with trade unions taking a stand against government-planned severe cuts. The United Services Trade Union (ver.di) based in Berlin, Germany, has shown its support for French trade unions in their ongoing struggle.
According to Frank Werneke, the chair of ver.di, the proposed cuts by the French government disproportionately burden employees, the unemployed, sick individuals, and retirees. These cuts include the elimination of holidays and leave entitlements, cuts in public services, devaluation of pensions, higher out-of-pocket health costs, and changes to labor laws.
Werneke has called for a fair solution that would require large corporations, wealthy individuals, and top earners to pay their fair share. He believes that France's economic problems should not be solved at the expense of the majority, and unconditional corporate subsidies, record dividends, and tax privileges for the rich are no longer tolerable as social rights are being eroded.
The protests are against the budget, labor market, pension, and social policies of the French government. While the exact nature of these policies is not specified, they are believed to be aimed at reducing the country's debt and reforming its social welfare system.
A previous protest day took place on September 10, and French trade unions have announced further strikes and protests for September 18, 2025. The German association that participated in the protests of the French trade unions against planned social cutbacks on September 18, 2025, is the GEW (Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft). They organized and registered the demonstration and were involved in the collective protest activities during that period.
The fight of the French trade unions, as stated by Werneke, is for social justice, the protection and expansion of the welfare state, good work, and dignity in old age. The protests are a call for a more equitable distribution of the country's resources and a rejection of policies that disproportionately affect the most vulnerable members of society.
As the protests continue, it remains to be seen how the French government will respond to the growing opposition to its proposed cuts. The solidarity shown by German unions is a clear indication that the fight for workers' rights and social justice is a transnational struggle.
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