Reportage

France: commotion against the pension reform project

Sacred union among the unions: the secretary general of the French Democratic Confederation of Labor (CFDT), Laurent Berger, on the left, and his counterpart at the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), Philippe Martinez, in Paris on January 10, 2023. AP -Francois Mori

Text by: RFI Follow

3 mins

After the presentation, Tuesday, January 10, of the pension reform project by Élisabeth Borne, the French unions, meeting at the Bourse du travail in Paris, called for mobilization on January 19.

And while the right is sending signals of satisfaction with the government's orientations, the left as a whole is calling to join this union front, which has not been seen for twelve years.

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We hadn't seen that since Sarkozy.

Eight trade unions and five student unions jointly reject what they call an “unfair” reform and unanimously demand the withdrawal of the increase in the retirement age to 64 years.

This is a red line crossed by the government, comments our special correspondent,

.

In their eyes, the reform will mainly affect the most precarious, those whose life expectancy is lower than other workers, as well as those who started working early.

Especially since according to the unions, the pay-as-you-go pension system is not in danger, if not because of this project.

Nothing justifies such a brutal reform.

The mobilization of January 19 should therefore be a long-term one;

it is a point of departure and not a point of arrival.

Everyone, all the trade unions, said that we would refuse an extension.

So here is !

Today, we are laughed at...

Report: against pension reform, the union front is launched

Anne Verdaguer

Macron: the right hesitates 

On the menu of the government, therefore: the postponement of the legal age of departure to 64 years, in particular.

A measure coupled with an extension of the contribution period which would increase to 43 years, as explained by the leader of the majority.

The text could benefit from the support of the Republicans.

But if the president of the party, Éric Ciotti, and the leader of the LR deputies Olivier Marleix, say they are in favor of this reform, it is far from certain that all the deputies of the LR group follow the voting instructions.

This line is not unanimous and some deputies set their conditions, notes our special correspondent to the Assembly,

.

Also, to convince the recalcitrant of the LR group, the government should certainly make other concessions in the parliamentary debate.

I have been clear from the start, I said that if the different points, the careers of women, if the retirement pensions for those who are already 85% retired and if for those who have started working early, we had a penalty, which is looming in the Prime Minister's announcements, I would not vote for this text...

Pension reform: Republicans united or dispersed?

Charlotte Urien Tomaka

High hearts at Nupes

On the left of the Assembly, on the other hand, things are clear.

Immediately announced, immediately opposed, the reform of Elisabeth Borne.

Barely a few minutes after the presentation by the Prime Minister, the Nupes held its first meeting against the text on Tuesday evening.

The atmosphere was festive, in the room, even if on the stage, the mines were serious, relates

The appointment opened with the first of the chore: handlers, sellers, carers.

Revolt is the option to choose, then hammered the politicians.

This battle, the union of the left will lead it to Parliament, but especially in the street, alongside the unions.

The objective is therefore displayed for January 19, the first major date of mobilization launched by the trade unions in the face of this umpteenth pension reform.

You have to touch hearts.

The other place you have to touch in the French is the guts!

How do they allow themselves up there to distribute 80 billion euros in dividends, and it would be necessary to come and use the pensions of teachers, caregivers, those who hold the country upright?

Pensions: Nupes launches mobilization with unions

Aurelien Devernoix

►Also read: France: Elisabeth Borne unveils her pension reform project

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• France

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• Elisabeth Borne

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