MÜLHEIM/RUHR (dpa-AFX) – NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst has called for more pragmatism and cooperation in politics and business. “I am convinced that a strong alliance of unions, employers and politicians can provide an answer to people’s frustration and concerns,” said the CDU politician, according to the speech manuscript, at the central Labor Day event in Mülheim/Ruhr.
“What is currently standing in the way is how we treat each other,” said Wüst. “For me, there’s too much badmouthing about one another. Badmouthing employers is just as wrong as badmouthing employees.”
The country needs an alliance “that maintains employment, prosperity and social security in our country,” demanded the Prime Minister. This is also a decisive contribution to countering the political successes of the right-wing populists. “The enemies of our democracy must realize that they have no chance.”
Wüst: Collective Bargaining Act brings fair money for good work
Shortly before the traditional workers’ rally day on May 1st, the North Rhine-Westphalia state government responded to a long-standing demand from the unions: It introduced a collective bargaining agreement law under which the state’s contracts will in future only be awarded to companies that pay their employees collectively agreed wages.
This is an important step, said Wüst according to the speech manuscript. “We don’t say: stinginess is cool – what counts for us is: fair money for good work.”
However, the DGB recently criticized the fact that the planned draft law excluded the municipalities, even though they are responsible for 75 percent of all public contracts in North Rhine-Westphalia./mhe/DP/stw
