Philipp Türmer warns that workers cannot be made invisible again. While the SPD ran a strong election campaign using the term ‘respect’, he argues that the debate later became too technical. For Türmer, labour rights are not just about the minimum wage or pension levels, but about the fundamental question of whether people actually feel equal in their everyday lives. Too often, promises are not kept, he says – and people feel this very keenly. Social democracy must be more successful at championing equality, social mobility and equal opportunities. -fw
Katrin Rulle