Danish public sector employees demonstrating today

Protests against budget cuts are taking place today in 74 towns across the country

Lucie Rychla

Public sector employees are demonstrating today in 74 towns against the government’s reprioritisation package for the municipalities from 2017-2019.

Teachers, healthcare assistants and other municipal employees worry the proposed budget cuts will negatively affect citizens’ welfare.

READ MORE: Danish government stealing from municipalities, contends Copenhagen lord mayor

The last straw
“Massive budget cuts that have been enforced in the public sector in recent years have already pushed municipal employees hard,” Jan Hoby, a spokesperson for VelfærdsallianceDK, the organiser of the demonstrations, told Avisen.

“The reprioritisation package will be the last straw that will ultimately mean fewer hands to do the tasks and a poorer service for citizens.”

READ MORE: Danish municipalities announce new tax rates

Negotiations starting today
The government has asked the municipalities to pay 2.4 billion kroner into the state budget and cut down 1 percent on their total expenses every year until 2019.

The protests will coincide with today’s scheduled commencement of further negotiations between the government and the interest group for Danish municipalities, KL.

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