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Demonstration in Paris as France faces its eighth day of consecutive strikes against the government's pension reform plans, December 12, 2019. REUTERS / Eric Gaillard

In France, in the aftermath of the government's announcements on pension reform, mobilisations took place this Thursday, December 12 in the provinces and in Paris. In the capital, several hundred demonstrators have broken the pavement to show their anger and tell the government that they are still there and determined and among them many teachers.

" Retirement, it's ours . Several professions were represented at this demonstration between the Place de la Nation and the Place de la Republique. In the procession, many teachers angry after the Prime Minister's announcements .

" We will enshrine in the law the guarantee that the level of teachers' pensions will be protected and comparable to the level of pensions for equivalent functions or jobs in the civil service, " said Prime Minister Édouard Philippe during his speech. on pension reform on Wednesday. " We will commit before the end of the five-year period the revalorizations necessary to maintain the level of pensions " teachers, " we will do it gradually and we will start in 2021. "

We know very well that the upgrading that we are promised, it will be insufficient to have adequate pensions in retirement.

Ketty Valke, academic secretary of FSU Paris 12/12/2019 - by Aram Mbengue Play

Promises far from satisfying Sylvert, a 43-year-old teacher, who denounces a government strategy to split the unions . " I find it scandalous, for example, that he announces that the new regime will only concern people who were born after 1975. I think what he's trying to do is split up the union front and I think that's will have the opposite effect. So we remain very motivated to withdraw this reform. "

Pensions amputated from 600 to 800 euros?

After more than 40 years in education, Bruno has just retired. He wanted to demonstrate in solidarity with his former colleagues. " I know that with the reform that has been announced, it is for my colleagues with the same career as me, they will earn 600 or 800 euros less than me when they retire. "

In a press conference two hours after the speech of Édouard Philippe, the Minister of Education Jean-Michel Blanquer said that this reform was an opportunity to improve the remuneration of teachers. He acknowledged that for the youngest there are delays when compared to other European countries. " It is on premiums that will be the most important effort ," he said, adding that " their amount and rate of increase require social dialogue ."

Interprofessional Mobilization December 17

This Friday, Édouard Philippe and Jean-Michel Blanquer will travel to Nancy, in the east of France, for a debate with teachers on the theme of pensions.

Teachers who say they have a lot to lose with the pension reform are determined to continue the strike until the withdrawal of the reform. Because for them, retirement is the last straw that breaks the camel's back. They promise to be still numerous in the street on December 17, during a day of interprofessional mobilization.

See also: Pensions: Philippe tries to bring the unions back to the negotiating table