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Postal workers

The courtroom was not large enough to accommodate everyone attending the hearing, with postal workers standing outside the door. They have taken legal action over changes introduced during the 2015 public service reform, which saw them graded differently from other professional groups that had previously been in the same career category, their lawyer Marc Kohnen explained.

Before 2015, postal workers and prison officers had the same entry requirements, including the same educational qualifications, as well as identical career progression. The reform changed that arrangement, placing prison officers in grade D1 and postal workers in D2, he continued.

According to Raymond Juchem, president of the postal workers’ union, this results in a difference of around 70 points by the end of a career. At the current value of a salary point, that amounts to approximately €1,600 per month. Postal workers have already raised what they consider to be discriminatory treatment with Public Service Minister Serge Wilmes. Two years ago, they reached an agreement to receive an additional 12 points.

There was therefore some surprise in the courtroom when the state’s representative argued that the postal workers’ legal challenge was inadmissible because they work for Post Luxembourg rather than directly for the state. According to this argument, the workers had approached the wrong authority by taking their case to the public service minister.

Also today

• An employee of the Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (CGDIS) has been suspended following "extremely serious" accusations of sexual harassment.
• Labour Minister Marc Spautz has proposed allowing four-day, 10-hour working week, subject to collective agreements.
• RTL and Film Fund Luxembourg have launched a joint call for Luxembourgish-language TV series proposals.
• The death toll from the high-speed train collision in Spain, near Madrid, has now risen to at least 64 people.
• Around 200 passengers who paid to live on a cruise ship while travelling the world have been abruptly left in Cambodia after the company ran out of money.
• Flavio Bolsonaro has fled Brazil following Lula's electoral victory, and landed in Florida by private plane today.

On air

We could finally spill the beans on the first act lined up for the Luxexpo Open Air summer gigs, with The Neighbourhood confirmed to be performing.

Figure of the day

37 votes in favour, 11 against and 12 abstentions for the long-awaited move to individual taxation

• After years of debate and calls from across the political spectrum, Luxembourg will be introducing individual taxation and replace the current system known as "splitting". As Christian Social People's Party (CSV) MP and rapporteur Diane Adehm explained, Luxembourg was one of the last countries in Europe still applying this outdated model, arguing that the reform is long overdue and better reflects modern society.
• Under the existing tax regime, women who spent time at home raising children were often financially discouraged from returning to work. The reform will address this by making employment more attractive for women. However, couples who wish to retain the existing system will be able to do so for up to 25 years. Adehm emphasised that people should not lose a benefit that influenced major life decisions.

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