Paris (AFP)

A universal pension system "implies the disappearance of special regimes," said Philippe Philippe Friday, while saying his "total disposition" to negotiate to develop "progressive transitions" while the strike continues against the reform.

From the steps of Matignon, the head of government said he would present "the entire government project" pension reform Wednesday, December 11 at noon, the day after new exchanges between social partners, the high commissioner Jean-Paul Delevoye and the Minister of Solidarities and Health Agnès Buzyn.

"I say it quietly: the establishment of a universal retirement system implies the disappearance of special schemes.I do not believe that the French can sustainably accept regimes that today lead some to leave, while they do the same profession, with a little more and earlier than others, "insisted the Prime Minister.

But his "logic will never be that of confrontation," he added, denying any "brutality" in the establishment of the future system.

"It would be unreasonable, not acceptable, not just to change the rules during the game," said the head of government, speaking to employees of the SNCF and RATP. "That's why I said, and I repeat today, my total disposition to ensure that transitions are progressive", he said, before receiving the new boss of the SNCF Jean-Pierre Farandou and RATP President Catherine Guillouard.

France has known Thursday a massive mobilization at the call of unions, with the exception of the CFDT, and the strike continued Friday in particular in transport. Unions opposed to pension reform have decided a new day of strikes and demonstrations Tuesday.

These unions challenge the "universal system" by points supposed to replace from 2025 the 42 existing pension plans (general, civil servants, private, special, autonomous, complementary). The executive promises a "fairer" device, when opponents fear a "casualization" of retirees.

In this context, Mr Philippe again sent a message to teachers for whom the universal system, "it is not the decline of pensions of teachers.

"On the contrary, it is the gradual revaluation of their treatment so that their pension, their purchasing power, at the time of retirement do not fall," he argued, suggesting compensations since " the absurd application of the new rules would penalize them ".

The head of government will present the government's plan Wednesday to the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (EESC), which is "the chamber of social dialogue and intermediate bodies," he said.

"I believe in social dialogue," assured Philippe, observing that he had arrived "that some criticize the government for the verticality with which it would have made decisions".

However, the government's plan will "take into account many proposals made by the trade unions," he said.

© 2019 AFP