Pensions: unions call for continued mobilization, rallies across France

Demonstration in the streets of Dijon after the adoption of the pension reform at the National Assembly, March 20, 2023. © AFP/Arnaud Finistre

Text by: RFI Follow

3 min

After the rejection of the motions of censure in the National Assembly – itself following the government's recourse to Article 49.3 of the Constitution to pass its reform – the unions are still calling for mobilization against the pension reform. As early as Monday evening, tensions erupted in Paris and rallies took place throughout the France.

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The rejection of this transpartisan motion of censure "by a few votes, changes nothing!" for the CGT. Nothing weakens the determination of workers, jobless, young and retired to reject the pension reform that everyone, without exception, considers unjustified, unfair and brutal," the second largest French union said in a statement.

The CGT calls to "amplify the mobilizations", and to "participate massively in renewable strikes and demonstrations", on Thursday, March 23 "and after, if necessary". The inter-union called last week for a new day of strikes and demonstrations, the ninth, this Thursday.

► READ ALSO: France: the pension reform adopted after the rejection of the two motions of censure

The CFDT worries about "anger" and "violence"

Interviewed on LCI Monday evening, the secretary general of the CFDT, Laurent Berger, called on employees to "mobilize Thursday, within the framework of the interunion, in the same sense of responsibility" as since January to demand the withdrawal of the reform.

He said he was worried about the "anger" and "violence" that could be expressed because of the adoption of a law that had "no majority in the National Assembly", while affirming that the unions would not be "accountable for what happens that would not be under union slogan".

« 

We are creating ourselves for ten billion euros (...) the biggest social crisis of the last ten years and the biggest political crisis of the last twenty or thirty years, it's not worth it. " he warned.

🔴 #RéformeDesRetraites #MotionDeCensure
🗣️"We are creating for ten billion euros the biggest social crisis of the last 10 years and the biggest political crisis of the last 30 years, it's not worth it": @CfdtBerger to @ruthelkrief pic.twitter.com/0AljD2uXbh

— LCI (@LCI) March 20, 2023

Tensions in Paris, demonstrations in major cities

Garbage fires, barricades, processions walking the streets... Sporadic points of tension dotted several arteries in central Paris on Monday evening, just after the adoption of the pension reform with the support of article 49.3.

Bicycle prowlers report that about ten small groups wander around the center of Paris scattered like a puzzle.

Barricades were erected in their path to slow the advance of the BRAV-M. pic.twitter.com/xfu2ptbnR4

— Louis Witter (@LouisWitter) March 20, 2023

Shortly before 22:30 p.m., 101 people were arrested in the capital during these incidents. Throughout the evening, in small groups, protesters wandered through the center of the capital, knocking over electric scooters and bicycles, or setting fire to garbage cans. The security forces repeatedly used tear gas.

In Lyon, Saint-Etienne, Dijon, Bordeaux, Strasbourg or Brest, other rallies took place. In Lille, in front of the prefecture, northerners whistled and booed upon learning of the rejection of the motion of censure. "It's going to fart," they chanted. In Nantes, the demonstration, which began peacefully around 18 p.m., became tense in the middle of the evening. Bottles were thrown at the police, who responded with tear gas.

Man looking at a burning garbage can in Marseille, southern France, on March 20. AP - Daniel Cole

 « A powerful day of events »

In another statement, the FSU said that "nothing is played", and called on the President of the Republic not to promulgate the law. She called for "a powerful day of strikes and demonstrations on Thursday."

The inter-union called last week for a new day of strikes and demonstrations, the ninth, on Thursday, March 23.

This reform definitely has no legitimacy! It must disappear! All on strike and demonstration Thursday, March 23! Marseille 10:30 am Old Port. And until then, we remain https://t.co/A1x8ZSsieG: strikes, actions, rallies ... pic.twitter.com/Du3AV0bMY7

— FSU Bouches-du-Rhône (@FSU13Bdr) March 20, 2023

For her part, the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, will seize "directly the Constitutional Council" for an examination "as soon as possible" of the text of the pension reform.

(

With AFP)

► Read also Pension reform: the government draws the 49.3 to adopt the text

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