By: Dr Metod Berlec
Representatives of Golob’s government, trade unions, and employers ceremoniously signed an agreement on the so-called pension reform last Wednesday.
According to the proposed pension amendment, prepared by the negotiating group of the Economic and Social Council, the required retirement age will gradually increase from 2028 – by three months per year – and by 2035 it will be two years higher than it is now. At the same time, the period used to calculate the pension base will be extended from 24 to 35 years. This means that pensions will be lower and people will retire older. This will check the box that is necessary for Brussels to unlock the much-desired European funds.
But it seems even the trade unions are not unified on this. On Monday, ten out of a total of twenty-two unions that are part of the Association of Free Trade Unions of Slovenia (ZSSS) protested, warning that the proposal is “harmful to workers and retirees.” According to them, “it only benefits employers.” It appears that the interests of workers no longer concern ZSSS president Lidija Jerkič, who will soon step down from leading the largest trade union federation and retire next year. Let us recall that during Janša’s government, she was even opposed to employees receiving higher net wages. The same goes for the infamous trade unionist Branimir Štrukelj, who has been incredibly cooperative and peaceful under the current ideologically aligned government. Admittedly, he too is heading into retirement. This suggests that trade unions may no longer be as misused for political purposes in the future as they have been in the past.
But never mind that. As Žiga Turk wrote in his contribution “For a Turnaround of the Slovenian Development Mechanism” for the anthology Consensus for a Historic Moment, we live in exceptional circumstances that call for exceptional measures – and exceptional politicians. “All three must converge. The shock brought by Donald Trump’s election heralds a time that could be as transformative as the fall of the Berlin Wall or the end of World War II. Fascism and Nazism fell. Socialism and Communism fell. Perhaps now it is the turn of liberal democratism – and the West’s return to a truly free, liberal, pluralistic, deliberative democracy for all.” History is happening before our eyes.
Are real changes on the horizon for Slovenia too, amid the arrogance and harm caused by Golob’s government? We shall see. We must strive for them. We must believe in them. In line with the self-fulfilling prophecy: “Our expectations can influence future outcomes for ourselves or others.” For the future of Slovenia. But first, in the upcoming referendum on privileged pensions, we must vote AGAINST! Against Golob’s government! That will be an important step in the right direction.
