Pensions: 14th day of mobilization on June 6, announces the inter-union

Europe 1 with AFP / Photo credit: Edouard Monfrais-Albertini / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP 12:10 pm, May 02, 2023, modified at 13:33 pm, May 02, 2023

A 14th day of mobilization is planned for June 6 according to an announcement by the inter-union the day after May 1, marked by numerous demonstrations and excesses throughout France. According to CGT figures, 2.3 million demonstrators were present in the streets to denounce the pension reform.

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The unions "still united" are calling for a 14th day of action to "make themselves heard" by MPs who will examine two days later a bill to repeal the pension reform just promulgated.

Unions call for unity

"We call on our organizations to go and meet MPs everywhere to call on them to vote for this bill. In this context, the inter-union calls for multiplying initiatives including a new day of common action, strikes and demonstrations on June 6," write the unions the day after May 1, which brought together nearly 800,000 demonstrators according to the police (2.3 million according to the CGT).

This bill tabled by the small heterogeneous centrist group Liot "will allow for the first time the national representation to vote on the pension reform", on June 8, they said in a statement. A favourable vote would only be the beginning of a parliamentary journey, but would be a slap in the face for the executive. "This is why the mobilization must be maintained until this date," insisted Monday the secretary general of the CGT, Sophie Binet.

For Sophie Binet, who recalls that the motion of censure failed "only nine votes" after the use of 49-3, the deputies even have "the end of the conflict in their hands". "There is necessarily a risk because we are in a relative majority," acknowledged Monday evening the Minister of Labour Olivier Dussopt. In the shorter term, the unions are waiting for the decision of the Constitutional Council, which is due to decide on Wednesday on a second request for a referendum of shared initiative (RIP).

But, cooled by the first decision of the Wise Men on April 14, which had rejected this first request, they were cautious. Laurent Berger believes in it "more or less" while, for Sophie Binet, "the RIP was written not to work".

A new meeting between Elisabeth Borne and the inter-union?

In its press release, the inter-union takes note of the fact that "the government has announced the opening of a cycle of consultations without the object or the framework being precisely fixed". Elisabeth Borne must send invitations to the unions "in the coming days" according to Olivier Dussopt, without specifying the format of these meetings, bilateral or multilateral.

To overcome the beginning of differences between the "reformists" (CFDT, CFE-CGC, CFTC) who have already said they would go to Matignon, and the others (CGT, FO and Solidaires), who have not yet spoken, the inter-union does not take a position, while suggesting that it will participate. The trade unions "will recall their rejection of the pension reform" whose first implementing decrees have already been sent for consultation to the social partners so that the reform is operational in September.

They will work on "joint proposals involving employers (...) in terms of wages, working conditions, social democracy, gender equality and the environment". "Mistrust is deep and dialogue can only be re-established if the government proves its willingness to finally take into account the proposals of the trade unions," they concluded in the statement.

"Everything will cost more"

If the CFDT will go to Matignon, "everything will cost more", had stressed Sunday Laurent Berger who wants to talk about minimum wages and conditionality of aid to companies, work organization, restoration of CHSCT abolished by the work ordinances of 2017 ... For the CGT, "the government agenda, with the reform of the RSA and Pôle emploi in France work, the reform of the vocational high school, does not suit us," warned Sophie Binet.

The inter-union therefore seems to have left to remain united at least until June 8. But, if the Liot bill is not voted, "I will not tell a story, I will not say that we will make a 15th, 16th, 17th day of mobilization that will make the government and the president of the Republic yield," acknowledged Mr. Berger.