2023-05-01 17:29:51
Published to:
Labor Day brought new life to the struggle of the French trade unions against the Government, which from the outside seems already lost as the reform of the pension system was enacted by the Government and will come into effect as of September. But, on their side, the workers do not let themselves down.
Not even the torrential rain spoiled the Fia party of workers in France, who gathered in their thousands at Praça da República in Paris and throughout France to demonstrate against the reform of the pension system already enacted by President Emmanuel Macron.
In the Paris procession, there are those who are more in favor of negotiating with the Government, such as Marion, who belongs to the largest trade union in France, the CFDT, and wants, at the very least, an increase in wages.
“We are disappointed, but we want to show that we are mobilized. It was a great disappointment that we were not heard not only on the reform of the pension system itself, but on possible alternatives. It is now up to the Government to show some openness and once again show confidence in the social partners“, said Marion, a civil servant who belongs to the CFDT.
CGT union members, on the other hand, are less in favor of sitting at the table with Elisabeth Borne or Emmanuel Macron. They are satisfied with the election of a new general secretary, Sophie Binet, but promise not to leave the streets until the government backs down with the increase in the retirement age, as explained by Christophe, a worker at EDF, the largest French energy company, who is a union member of the CGT. .
“At the level of the unions, we will not abandon the streets. But people are increasingly resigned and the State does everything to keep them that way, because it does not give in to anything.“, said Christophe, unionized for 30 years.
The question now remains of how long these unions will remain united in the inter-union force that has so far incited protests in France, with possible meetings between the social partners and the executive taking place this week
The procession in Paris for the celebration of Labor Day was again marked by clashes between demonstrators and the police, with violence and destruction also in the cities of Lyon and Nantes.
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