Workers in Bergisch Gladbach receive a powerful demonstration of unity and fairness in their initial treatment.
🎉 Labour Day Festivities Kick Off in Bergisch Gladbach 🎈
Stepping into the vibrant Bensberg Town Hall, Bergisch Gladbach welcomed workers for an unprecedented Employee Reception, in partnership with the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB). This inaugural event was a melting pot of social acknowledgement and political assertions, spotlighting issues like fair working conditions, robust social security, and solidarity among colleagues.
Mayor Frank Stein, with a heartfelt address, warmly welcomed an array of guests. Riffing on recent statements by DGB Chairwoman Yasmin Fahimi, Stein underscored the essence of worker empowerment, expressing the need for secure pension plans, equitable wages, and tangible support for those facing economic hardships.
"I'm no stranger to the working class - we're not dealing with abstract concepts here; we're speaking of the livelihoods of my family and many others within our beloved city," Stein articulated passionately.
Patrick Graf, overseeing the DGB Network Rhein-Berg, showcased the union's triumphs in the previous year. Boasting the strengthened agreements secured for approximately 20 million members spread across various sectors, including the public sphere, Graf spotlighted the union's tenacity.
Graf, however, didn't forget to address the current predicament facing the employees of Saint-Gobain Isover. Showing solidarity, he affirmed the union's commitment to supporting their fight for job preservation.
Under the inspiring motto, "Speak Up for Your Rights with Us!", Judith Gövert, Managing Director of the DGB Region Cologne-Bonn, delivered a stirring speech. Urging the swift implementation of the long-awaited Tariff Loyalty Act at the federal level, she was also keen to remind the NRW region that change demands action.
"Here in NRW, we're a year behind in action. It's high time for words to be backed up with action," Gövert emphasized.
Gövert didn't shy away from criticizing proposed changes to the Working Hours Act. "Let's not cast aside the 40-hour week as an outdated model - it's a culmination of hard-won efforts. Any attempts to meddle with it could derail the social balance and jeopardize the wellbeing of workers," she cautioned.
To emphasize her stance, Gövert unveiled an eye-catching relic from the 1950s: a poster demanding a 40-hour workweek. Affirming her union's support for the employees of Isover, Gövert expressed sympathy towards those juggling anxieties about their livelihoods.
As the night drew to a close, all guests were invited to join a lively get-together - a promising platform for collaboration and networking between trade unions, civil society groups, and political representatives.
"In the heart of the Bensberg Town Hall, the discussion turned from festivities to serious matters, delving into policy-and-legislation, particularly the need for a strong Tariff Loyalty Act and the preservation of the 40-hour workweek for the better wellbeing and health of workers."
"Mayor Frank Stein's speech was a call to action, stressing on the importance of securing pension plans, equitable wages, and robust social security to ensure the security of the working class in Bergisch Gladbach."
