Strike in France: mobilizations for pensions and better wages
Ahead of the day of national mobilization this Thursday, TotalEnergies employees have already started actions, like here in Carling, on September 27, to push for a wage increase.
© Jean-Christophe Verhaegen / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
3 mins
A day of mobilization across France is taking place this Thursday, September 29, in favor of purchasing power.
The CGT, FSU and Student Solidarity unions are calling for an interprofessional strike.
Faced with galloping inflation, they demonstrate to demand wage increases.
Many disturbances are to be expected throughout the country, particularly in the public audiovisual sector.
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With at least 200 gathering places planned in France, according to Céline Verzeletti, confederal secretary of the CGT, this mobilization is the first social test of the second five-year term of French President Emmanuel Macron.
It is in an increasingly tense climate, due
to high inflation
(+5.9% in August) and the fear of a
forced passage of the pension reform
, that the CGT, Solidaires and FSU call to demonstrate for
a salary increase
.
They also claim a minimum wage of 2,000 euros, retirement at 60 and a 32-hour week.
According to the organizing unions, major disruptions are to be expected in schools, services and transport.
Some sectors have not waited: strikes and walkouts have already been underway since the day before, as in petrochemicals with TotalEnergies employees blocking the exit of trucks from refineries.
Disturbances are also
planned in the public audiovisual sector, including RFI
.
Disruptions expected on TER, Transiliens, Intercités, but few in the RATP network
In Paris, the procession will leave at 2 p.m. (12 p.m. UT) from Place Denfert-Rochereau, in the direction of Bastille.
A police source said they expected 3,000 to 6,000 people in the capital, compared to 3,200 on March 17 and 8,800 on January 27, according to the Interior.
Philippe Martinez, secretary general of the CGT, the second French union, said Tuesday to expect a mobilization "
much higher than those of January and March
", noting that there were "
calls to strike in many professions
".
Three out of four unions, including the CFDT-Cheminots, have called for a strike at the SNCF.
Disruptions are expected on the TER, Transilien in Ile-de-France, Intercités and Ouigo lines, but the TGV Inoui will run almost normally.
On the RATP side, where only the CGT is calling for a strike, the mobilization will be moderate with disruptions in buses, trams and RER B, but not in the metro or RER A.
Left-wing parties and associations such as Attac or Oxfam will participate in this mobilization, however several trade unions will be absent.
This is the case of Unsa, FO and CFDT.
The latter reserves for the other deadline to come: the pension reform, based solely on an extension of working hours.
New cycle of consultations on pension reform
The government will open a new round of consultations around
the pension reform
, with a view to adopting a bill "
before the end of winter
", Elisabeth Borne announced Thursday morning to AFP, after a meeting at the Élysée with the majority.
“
We have chosen dialogue and consultation
” with the social partners and the political parties, declared the Prime Minister, before a national day of trade union mobilization, adding that she would like “
the entry into force of the reform in the summer of 2023
".
In this perspective, the head of government asked the Minister of Labor Olivier Dussopt "
to start negotiations next week
" with employers' organizations and trade unions, as well as with "
parliamentary groups
".
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France
Social issues
Employment and Labor
Emmanuel Macron
Elisabeth Borne