Social demos at the weekend: at least the unions care

T he buses have been ordered, the advertising is running - on Saturday the unions are planning demonstrations against the social cuts in 15 cities. At best there will be over 100,000 demonstrators. Very nice. But that's not enough - and not just in view of the number of union members of around 5.4 million. But also with a view to the 36 million employees.

Apparently it is still not understood that there is one thing that can help combat cuts and rising costs: organizing a union, fighting for higher wages and defending social achievements. Nobody else does that for the employees. No employer voluntarily gives away money, no matter how high rents are and gasoline prices rise. Especially not in East Germany, where there are particularly few union members.

The higher wages in the catering industry don't just fall out of nowhere; the unions have negotiated them out. A social plan is only ever available with a works council. A decent pension, continued payment of wages in the event of illness, paid vacation: hard-fought. But it can also be abolished – the attacks on it are there. It's high time that the millions of free riders who aren't in the union, but who take every wage increase and all the social goodies with them without thanks, realize this.

The taz is an independent, left-wing and opinionated daily newspaper. We have been arguing in our comments, essays and debate texts since the taz was founded in 1979. We often cannot and do not want to agree on an opinion. That's why you'll find some completely opposing positions here - all part of the very broad left-wing spectrum of opinions.

Now unions also have themselves to blame for seeming so unattractive. Their scary language, the hierarchies, too few women in leadership positions – definitely needs improvement. And yes, there are also AfD voters in the unions. But they are the only ones who are there where politics and the media rarely find themselves: in the middle of the companies. Anyone who doesn't give them more than a dirty supporting role in the social debate - as the media does - is not looking closely. And so plays the game of employers and corporations who remain happily silent. Their best hope: weak unions. You shouldn't do them that favor.