Paris (AFP)

Jets of work clothes, torchlight marches, but also stormy interpellation of Emmanuel Macron or intrusion at the CFDT: while the mobilization is running out of steam, opponents of the pension reform are trying new forms of action, sometimes contested, to register for the long term.

After 46 days of conflict, "the bulk of the wave of traditional mobilization, by way of protests and renewable strikes, is gradually ebbing," observes Stéphane Sirot, historian of social movements.

"However, the discontent remains as keen," which leads opponents to "find other ways of acting," he continues.

And in fact, the employees still have "imagination to show their dissatisfaction", observed the number one of the CGT, Philippe Martinez, in an interview published Sunday by Le Parisien.

A creativity that we have seen flourish in demonstrations - through slogans, songs or "flash mobs" particularly relayed on social networks - but also outside.

Lawyers thus threw to the ground, symbolically, their black dresses, teachers did the same with their school textbooks, striking musicians from the Paris Opera gave a free outdoor concert ... And in several cities of France, unions organize torchlight retreats in addition to the traditional protest processions.

"We condemn any form of violence," said Philippe Martinez on Sunday, noting however that "if it is a simple protest rally, it does not shock me at all".

- Spontaneous mobilizations -

"These are dynamic and strong arrest actions, but for me, the term violence does not apply," also said AFP Eric Beynel, spokesman for the Solidaires union.

"We can not talk about radicalization. It is inappropriate and inappropriate," also believes Stéphane Sirot. The historian stresses, however, that "faced with a political power that plays on decay, we see the emergence of more spontaneous, dynamic, less controllable forms of intervention" which therefore "can slip, all the more since they are not framed stricto sensu by the unions ".

Are the big power stations losing their grip on the conflict?

"We cannot say that we have the hand or that we control. If that were the case, we would already be on a renewable general strike", quips Eric Beynel. The social movement, he underlines, lives a "mutation" in which "the trade unions have a place and propose tools" to the employees who want to be heard.

Because "the verticality of power and certain union organizations, it no longer works", according to him.

The fact remains that more traditional forms of action, such as strikes, have not said their last word. The Paris metro should certainly regain almost normal traffic on Monday, but that is because the drivers wish to "regain strength" before the next mobilization scheduled for Friday, said Unsa.

Also at SNCF, the strike "is far from over," said Cédric Robert, spokesman for CGT-Cheminots, who announced a "significant return of the strikers" for Friday.

Transport is not the only one affected by work stoppages: the Louvre museum remained closed on Friday, and the money carriers could join the movement this week. As for seafarers and dockers, they organize themselves to strike alternately, in order to disrupt port activities, underlines Mr. Beynel.

For Stéphane Sirot, "the government is not done with this social movement". According to him, "the laws will undoubtedly pass, but the challenge does not die out".

© 2020 AFP