• Tweeter

  • republish

Demonstration of December 7, 1995 in Paris on the occasion of the pension reform of the Juppe government. AFP Photos / Joel Robine

This Friday is the 23rd consecutive day of strike against the pension reform, the movement is entering its fourth week. This strike broke the record for the duration of the social conflict in 1995 which also related to the pension reform led by Alain Juppé.

On December 5, when the strike movement started, the issue was on everyone's lips. Will it last? Will they last longer than in 1995? They finally held out.

In 1995, the strike began on November 24 and ended 10 days before the Christmas holidays. After numerous demonstrations which had brought together 1 to 2 million people, the government of Alain Juppe preferred to withdraw its project to preserve the holiday season.

Stalled negotiations

It is not the choice of the government of Edouard Philippe who for the moment wishes to maintain his retirement plan with points with the establishment of a pivotal age fixed at 64 years to rebalance the accounts. These two points are rejected by the unions. The hardest ask for the outright withdrawal from the project, the most moderate have made pivotal age the red line not to cross.

► Also read: Pension reform: special plans at the heart of the conflict

Each camp maintains its positions and the movement is bogged down. A new day of action is scheduled for Saturday, December 28. Not only did this Thursday mark the symbolic date of the number of days equaled by the long strike of 1995, but it does not suggest any near outcome to the conflict. While negotiations were constant 24 years ago, they are currently at a standstill.