Alliance for a Strong Welfare State in Lower Saxony presents demands - trade unions and social organisations join forces to fulfil the welfare state's promise of security for all
Article 20 (1) of the Basic Law states: "The Federal Republic of Germany is a democratic and social federal state." A strong welfare state is the basis for successful coexistence. Recently, this welfare state has been called into question and attacked at various levels. This is why trade unions and social organisations in Lower Saxony have joined forces to form the "Alliance for a Strong Welfare State". In detail, this includes AWO Niedersachsen Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft, Paritätische Niedersachsen, Diakonie in Niedersachsen, Landesarmutskonferenz Niedersachsen, Caritas in Niedersachsen, Kinderschutzbund Niedersachsen, SoVD, Lebenshilfe, Sozialverband VdK, Blinden- und Sehbehindertenverband Niedersachsen, Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund (DGB) and its member unions EVG, GdP, GEW, IG BAU, IGBCE, IG Metall, NGG and ver.di.
The alliance is campaigning for a pension level that safeguards living standards, for decisive action against child poverty, for affordable housing, for living wages, for good medical care, for a reliable social infrastructure, for the preservation of the eight-hour working day, for more support for young people without training, for the integration of the unemployed and for people who have fled war, persecution and the consequences of climate change to have prospects of staying in Germany.
"A strong welfare state is the promise to citizens that they will not be left alone in the event of unemployment, illness, care and old age. Social security is the foundation for a democratic and sustainable society - giving it up would be irresponsible and short-sighted," says Andrea Wemheuer, regional director of ver.di Lower Saxony-Bremen. "The welfare state is not just a cost factor, but also stabilises democracy, promotes social cohesion and contributes to a solidary, just and resilient society. To make it fit for the future, there must be a cultural shift from mistrust to trust. This is the only way to successfully reduce bureaucracy," says Hans-Joachim Lenke, spokesperson for the board of Diakonie in Lower Saxony. "The minimum subsistence level must be recalculated fairly. Poverty in Lower Saxony has already risen from 14.4 to 16.6 per cent since 2010. The poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer," says Fabian Steenken, Managing Director of the Lower Saxony Poverty Conference.
To finance a strong welfare state, the alliance is calling for the reintroduction of wealth tax, a fair inheritance tax, the consistent prosecution of tax evasion, a full citizens' insurance scheme based on parity and the conversion of the statutory pension insurance scheme into an employment insurance scheme.
With these demands, the alliance would like to initiate a discussion in society and in politics. Events and campaigns are also planned in this context. The complete demands paper is attached to this declaration
V.i.S.d.P.: Tobias Morchner, Press Spokesman | ver.di-Landesbezirk
Niedersachsen Bremen
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