Paris (AFP)

The strikers engaged against the pension reform end their sixth week of mobilization on Wednesday, a day marked by new actions, an intersyndicale meeting and a seminar with which the government wants to show that it is turning the page.

Ports, metros, trains, refineries, Banque de France, lawyers ... The mobilization continued on Wednesday, on its 42nd day and on the eve of a new day of interprofessional actions where demonstrations will be organized throughout France at call from the inter-union CGT, FO, CFE-CGC, Solidaires and FSU.

The latter, who still demands the total withdrawal of the pension reform project by points, meets at 5:00 p.m. to decide on the continuation of a mobilization that is unraveling.

The executive responded to the request of the reformist unions CFDT, Unsa and CFTC by agreeing to abolish the establishment in 2022 of a pivotal age (or "age of equilibrium") which was to gradually reach 64 years in 2027 and be matched a bonus-penalty.

He hopes to have thus "closed an important chapter of the pension reform", assures an adviser, and "to resume a more normal course of the governmental activity" by establishing the calendar of the other reforms remained in abeyance.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe nevertheless recalled his conviction that the social partners could not ignore an age measure to respect their promise of a zero deficit in 2027. More generally, he reiterated that " to continue funding our pension system, the French must work longer. "

"The age of balance, it will work in the universal system when it runs at full capacity," confirmed Wednesday the Secretary of State for Pensions Laurent Pietraszewski on LCI.

For its part, Medef asked the government "all the figures relating to pensions" before participating in the financing conference, which should start at the end of January, and recalled that it favored the solution of an "age of equilibrium" .

In the meantime, without really hiding it, the government is counting on the weakening of the strike, the impact of which on the Banque de France in the fourth quarter of 2019 has been estimated at 0.1 point maximum.

But if the mobilization decreases, it remains mainly supported by public opinion, and the battle of the street is doubled by a news, in the hemicycle this time, where the framework of the examination of the bill is already criticized. by the oppositions of left and right, even before his arrival scheduled for February 17.

- Own fund for lawyers -

On Wednesday, the SNCF circulated 80% of the TGV and TER trains, 75% of the Transiliens (RER SNCF, trains in the Paris suburbs) and half of the Intercités trains. The rate of strikers fell there to 4.7%, close to the lowest reached on Monday (4.3%), with about one in five drivers concerned.

In Paris, the metros continued to run better, despite still major disruptions. At RATP, general assemblies voted to strike until Friday.

In Nantes, public transport was very disrupted in the morning due to blockage of bus and tram depots.

At the Total refinery in Donges (Loire-Atlantique), the CGT and the CFDT had planned to stop the production units, but according to the unions, "the management refuses these strike procedures" and requisitioned employees.

Security officers from the Banque de France and operators responsible for sorting banknotes were also on strike at the La Courneuve fiduciary center (Seine-Saint-Denis) and at the Vic-Le-Comte stationery (Puy-de-Dôme) ).

The largest processing center in the Paris region, in Ivry-sur-Seine, was also evacuated by the police on Wednesday, after 24 hours of blockage.

Some demonstrations are planned, notably in Nantes and Bordeaux, as well as a gathering of officials in front of Bercy, in Paris.

For their part, the lawyers, who are multiplying symbolic actions, have obtained from the government the maintenance of "a fund specific to their profession", but this arrangement does not satisfy the National Council of Bars.

© 2020 AFP