This is about all of us: our pensions and our working hours, our social rights, healthcare, education, care work, youth services, housing benefits, inclusion, counselling – about our lives.

The federal government is planning the worst assault on workers’ rights and public services in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany. It is a general attack on the vast majority of the population and on the few social achievements won over the past decades. Sick notes from the very first day? Poverty pensions after a lifetime of work? Cuts to necessary therapies and counselling services? Higher co-payments for medication and treatment? Longer working hours with fewer benefits? Financially bleeding municipalities dry and cutting back their social services?

Many people are outraged, and protests are growing across Germany. On 11 July, we at #UNKÜRZBAR-Mittelfranken took to the streets with 3,000 people. Now the DGB and its member unions are organising 15 mass rallies across Germany on 26 September. Many thousands of demonstrators from all over Bavaria will come to the central rally in Nuremberg and march to Kornmarkt. #UNKÜRZBAR will be there with its own demonstration, sending a clear signal for the expansion and preservation of public services, for solidarity and social justice. In protest against the massive cuts to healthcare and social services, we will begin our march at 9:30 AM at Nuremberg-North Hospital, with the voices of those affected.

The supposed need for austerity is not a law of nature, but class struggle from above.
While the richest 1% now control half of all financial assets in Germany, the government of the anti-worker multimillionaire Merz is blocking the necessary taxation of large fortunes and inheritances. While there is supposedly no money for our rights and needs, billions are being spent on military build-up. The budget for military expansion is being increased to 43% of the federal budget. It is up to all of us to stop these social cutbacks now and create space for solidarity-based alternatives.

Let’s break out of the state of shock. Let’s take to the streets together. Enough is enough!