Day 12 of the Ampacet strike – The longest strike since 1995

Today, December 8th, the strike at Ampacet entered its 12th day. This is the longest strike in Luxembourg since the tilers’ strike in 1995, which lasted 28 days in total. In 2018, the nursing home strike lasted 11 days.

For the past 12 days, the management of Ampacet has maintained absolute silence. While the Ministers of Labor and Economy sent a letter to management and the OGBL stressing the importance of social dialogue, management’s only response was to call the workers’ delegation to a meeting to discuss the working hours plan (plan d’organisation du travail – POT). In its umpteenth attempt at intimidation, and in violation of the Labor Code, it tried to force the meeting to take place without an OGBL manager present. Obviously, the delegation will attend the meeting only in the presence of an OGBL official. The Labor and Mines Inspectorate has already been notified.

The strike will now continue. In the face of management’s silence, the strikers, together with their union, the OGBL, have begun making preparations for a longer strike. The determination of the strikers remains absolutely intact and the solidarity remains extraordinary.

The solidarity fund has now reached 25,000 euros. Representatives of the LSAP, déi Lénk, déi gréng and KPL parties expressed their solidarity with the strikers and visited the picket line to support them. The municipalities of Bettembourg, Rumelange and Dudelange sent firewood to the strikers. In a show of solidarity, people are also stopping by every day to bring back something to warm their bodies and minds. And many musicians have offered to give support concerts.

Faced with this, the management’s only response is to call the police several times a day and try to break the strike by any legal means. In addition, it appears that the company is now trying to hire workers quickly. If this were an attempt to replace striking workers, it would obviously be totally illegal and the OGBL would take appropriate action.

The OGBL would like to reiterate that this is a social conflict that must be resolved at the negotiating table and not in the courts.

The message of the strikers is clear: “We will be here for Christmas and beyond if necessary!

Press release from the Ampacet Strike Committee
December 8, 2023