Demonstrators ready to "harden" the movement.
Hundreds of thousands pounded the Parisian pavement on Tuesday March 7 to ask the government to abandon its pension reform project, even if it meant "blocking the country".
Screaming sonos, banners and colorful trucks, the impressive procession set off a little after 2 p.m. on Boulevard Raspail.
"Raise wages, not the retirement age", "More cheerful retirees, fewer tax evaders" could be read on the signs, without forgetting the traditional "You put us 64, we may 68 ".
Student organizations marched during the Paris demonstration against pension reform on March 7, 2023. © Grégoire Sauvage
Among the demonstrators, many hope for "a turning point" on this sixth day of action, supposed to raise the pressure on the government a notch, in particular with the weapon of renewable strikes.
Movements that could affect many sectors in the coming days, in particular energy or transport.
"We are ready to harden the movement as in 1995 and to go on strike indefinitely. We must bring the economy to its knees. To obtain a result, we need a balance of power", assures Yazid, in a red chasuble of the CGT building.
He is headwind against a reform which according to him does not take into account the arduousness of his work: "heat", "confined spaces", "heavy loads"...
Members of the CGT pose in front of the entrance to the Parisian Palace Lutecia, March 7, 2023. © Grégoire Sauvage
Same story with his colleague Hadj.
"We are talking about bringing the economy to its knees. It hurts our hearts. But if we don't fight today, tomorrow they will take other things away from us", worries this colossus who is angry with " the lies" of the government, in particular the "minimum" revaluation of 1200 euros per month "for all retirees".
In reality, this measure will only concern 10,000 to 20,000 beneficiaries per year, recently acknowledged the Minister of Labour, Olivier Dussopt.
"Blocking is the only solution"
Beyond the members of the CGT, faithful to the hard line advocated by the management of the Montreuil power station, other demonstrators say they want to "bring France to a halt" in the face of a government that is turning a deaf ear.
"For me, you have to block everything, it's the only solution", launches Vanessa, a 47-year-old nurse who wears for the occasion a white coat on which a coffin is drawn.
"We're exhausted and it's getting worse and worse. I've worked since the age of 16, I have three children and now parents who are aging. I tell myself that we also have the right not to get up and to go to work at more than 60 years old", indignantly the caregiver, who ensures not to be unionized.
“Demonstrating several times, obviously that does not bring anything so I think that we must block because the government does not listen”, estimates Christelle, of the CFDT, who cites as an example the case of the blockages of refineries and oil depots that have occurred. in the fall of 2022.
The CFDT procession during the demonstration against the pension reform, March 7, 2023. © Grégoire Sauvage
Officially, the leadership of the reformist union does not call for the "blocking of the country", while saying that it is in favor of a hardening of the movement.
The CFDT fears in particular losing the support of public opinion in the event of fuel shortages or repeated difficulties for transport users or in national education.
Hold over time
"For us we must not block but at some point it may be necessary", slips Thierry 60, employee in the administration and member of the CFDT.
Now, it's here to stay and the government must be able to listen to us, but the longer it goes, the less popular the movement will be".
"The inter-union gives orientations, defines a strategy but in the end, it is the employees who decide together on the implementation of a strategy adapted to the situation of their job, their company and their demands", assures Vincent Gautheron, regional secretary of the Union Syndicale CGT-RATP in Île-de-France, according to whom "no crack" has appeared in the union front since the beginning of the movement.
>> To read on France 24.com: Pension reform, "it sometimes happens that the street governs"
It remains to be seen whether the renewable strike movement affecting the SNCF, the RATP or even the refineries and the LNG terminals will be able to last over time.
To cope, each union organization has set up "strike funds" to allow employees to hold out over time, but the strikers interviewed assure that this aid is far from compensating for lost wages.
"Blocking the country can be a solution, but with inflation and economic difficulties, this cannot be done," said Philippe, 74, a retiree who came to defend "the retirement of others out of solidarity".
"I think that unfortunately, people will not be able to make this strike last in time".
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