Liberal doctors mobilized Monday against pension reform

• Before the big demonstration of February 6 and the public hospital, on February 14, some liberal carers parade in Paris and in the region this Monday afternoon.
• They say loud and clear their refusal of the pension reform at the point which would put an end to their autonomous regime.
• Jérôme Marty, president of the UFML, one of the unions that called for mobilization, explains why the liberal professions are mobilizing now.

If you wander around Paris, you will certainly come across angry white blouses this Monday afternoon (especially between Bastille and Madeleine). A new strike and demonstration by railway workers, teachers, hospital staff? No, as of Monday, February 3, five liberal caregiver unions are calling for an unlimited strike. Alongside nurses, lawyers, these liberal doctors and paramedics parade to say no to the pension reform, the examination of which begins today in committee at the National Assembly. These liberal professions, within the SOS Retraite collective, refuse to be included in the universal point system. Jérôme Marty, president of the UFML (French Union of Free Medicine) union and general practitioner, explains why.

Direct manif #UnDeuxTrois 3 fév unis #SOSRetraite pic.twitter.com/oLmRR71uAB

Direct manif #TroisDeuxUn 3 fév unis #SOSRetraite pic.twitter.com/VJiJNHmr4o

The UFML, but also four other unions of liberal caregivers call to launch a strike this Monday unlimited why?

Five unions of liberal caregivers, but also unions of paramedics (nurses, physiotherapists ...) call to strike and demonstrate in Paris, Strasbourg, Lille, Marseille this Monday afternoon. But the movement goes beyond [these professions]: transport professions (especially pilots) and figures (statutory auditors and accountants) and law have joined us.

Why ?

The story is simple. Our professions were excluded in 1945 from the general pension scheme, so we created our autonomous schemes which operate on professional solidarity. The liberal professions have agreed to contribute much more to put money in reserve. The government is now explaining to us that these reserves will be used to pay for the transition. The State therefore intends to carry out the theft of the century. On the side of the doctors' fund, we reached 7.7 billion euros and when you add all these funds it is 140 billion euros, it clearly interests the government…

Another problem is that this reform provides for a universal points system. What scares us is that the point value will be determined by the state. So pensions will serve as an adjustment variable. We know this system. Because our tariffs depend on Ondam (National objective of health insurance expenses), a constrained envelope, voted each year by the PLFSS. This is why our prices do not change and that they are incompatible with our responsibilities.

The government wants to remove the 42 special regimes, it's a good idea to end this gas plant. Except that we are not a special regime, but an autonomous regime. This independence is very important to us. Today, our funds are profitable. If they pass into the hands of the state which has managed it so well that we end up with a collapsing hospital and medical deserts everywhere, there is reason to fear the worst…

What risks do you think if this reform passes?

We studied with the economist Frédéric Bizard this reform and according to our projection, in 2050, those who will be in the new system will have retirement pensions lower by 30%. Knowing that today on average a retired liberal general practitioner earns around 2,500 euros per month. This risks accentuating the decline in attractiveness of the profession. And so the medical deserts will expand further. The government is playing with fire.

Do you have an idea of ​​the number of strikers?

We have feedback that shows that it takes. As early as January 2019, we had alerted on this issue. The profession has fallen far behind. Today she wakes up. We are only talking to you about this reform.

What form will this strike take, are you still working?

This Monday, there are closets and closed blocks. And this is only the beginning. There will be other actions. We could go on an administrative teletransmission strike. So far, the government has listened to nothing. Jean-Paul Delevoye met with the medical unions with a Power Point and without negotiation.

It has been two months since some teachers, railway workers, carers, went on strike and demonstrated against this pension reform, why this mobilization now?

We've blocked this date since July. So as not to weigh too heavily on the patients. If you want the surgeons to participate in this movement, you must organize yourself in advance because they plan their operations six months before. Afterwards, the Regional Health Agencies (ARS) can requisition the liberal carers. But for the moment, I have no information to that effect.

Do you think that there may be a convergence of struggles, first between the public hospital and liberal carers and more generally against this pension reform?

Absolutely. I published a text this weekend called “I came to treat you” and I saw comments on Twitter from teachers, I also meet some, who tell me that we find the same problems in health and in education. The malaise is global, because of the stranglehold of the administration, the burnout, the loss of sense of our jobs, the lack of means ... The pension reform crystallizes anger, but it is the last blow carried to weakened professions. As for the public hospital, we support them at each event.

For the next one, February 14, it will be the same. I can't imagine exercising without paramedics or hospitals. We are all linked, private and public.

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