As the pension reform progresses against all odds, the inter-union appealed to Emmanuel Macron for abandoning the pension reform by calling a meeting on Tuesday. On Thursday, letter sent by mail to the President of the Republic to request a meeting.
“These massive mobilizations, in all parts of France and in all professional sectors of the public and private sector, received the constant support of the French population. And yet, you and your government remain silent in the face of the expression of this powerful movement society,” he laments. the representatives of 13 union organizations and student federations. This silence “constitutes a serious democratic problem” and could lead “inevitably to a situation that could become explosive.”
“The door to the executive has always remained open”
Since then, no meeting but a response from the Élysée referring the unions to the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne.
The latter also made contact by proposing to the inter-union meeting with the Minister of Labor Olivier Dussopt.
“If the trade union organizations wish to raise certain specific points, the door of the Minister of Labor Olivier Dussopt always remains open”, replied the Prime Minister during the session of questions to the government in the Senate that took place on Wednesday, March 8.
This point, which was included in article 7 of the reform, was also voted on in the eighth session from Wednesday to Thursday.
“I do not underestimate discontent”
For Senator Patrick Kanner, the Elysee’s refusal to meet with the unions is an affront and proof that his role is not being taken into account.
It was Olivier Véran who took it upon himself to respond by recalling the role of each one in a democratic procedure.
Given the discontent of the unions and its political repercussions in the assemblies, Emmanuel Macron finally responded by mail this Friday to the inter-union letter. On the eve of the 7th day of mobilization, the president’s response will not be able to quench the discontent. In this letter, the president says that he is listening as he stays the course of reform.
“I am concerned about this response”
For the CFDT, Emmanuel Macron’s response gives the impression “that nothing has happened since January 10”. For François Hommeril (CFE-CGC) Emmanuel Macron “acts as if the earth had not turned in two months”.
The pension reform project “is gradually losing its political legitimacy,” says Laurent Escure, Unsa’s general secretary, in response to Emmanuel Macron’s letter to the unions.
“A true yellow vest social explosion.”
For its part, the CGT believes that with the vote blocked it is likely that social discontent will worsen. “It’s a 49.3 in disguise that pushes anger to escalate,” Fabrice Coudour, federal secretary of CGT Energy, told reporters.
For Erik Meyer, Sud-Rail federal secretary, Emmanuel Macron “does not only answer to the unions. He answers to the people.”
For this official, with the government’s vote blocked, “we are in a true denial of democracy. Is Emmanuel Macron aware of what is happening in his country? With the government, he risks a real uncontrolled social explosion (…) like yellow vests.”
Source: BFM TV
