Craftsmen from Dresden and other nearby cities gathered for a mass rally yesterday, bringing 5,000 protesters together in front of the Frauenkirche on Dresden’s Neumarkt. Tino Kupper, master roofer and organizer of the rally, told Sächsische Zeitung that even before the Russian military intervention in Ukraine, prices for raw materials were so high that it was no longer possible to make predictable bids—and customers could no longer bear the prices. For instance a roof batten had already cost five times as much in January.
Five speakers at the rally, representing different guilds, described the existential fear, which drives them, in view of the exploding energy costs. The skilled workmen are the support of the society, safe jobs, finances, and also support of culture and sport. This provides for prosperity and social peace, the craftsmen point out, and all this is now at stake.
Therefore, the demonstration was “an appeal to reason,” said roofing guild head Stefan Pietschmann. “The skilled trades do not often demonstrate—but when they do, it is necessary,” said the last speaker, President of the Dresden Chamber of Skilled Trades Jörg Dietrich.
He called for the use of all forms of energy, including coal and nuclear power, in the crisis, which is not discussed enough. Politicians must ensure stable framework conditions, he said. Several state politicians listened to the speeches, the most prominent being Saxon Health Minister Petra Köpping (SPD) and CDU parliamentary group leader Christian Hartmann.
