For the first time since 2009, all unions called for actions for this Labor Day. The parades and mobilizations of this May Day will be closely followed by the government of Emmanuel Macron. French unions promise a “historic” mobilization to mark “a new stage” against raising the retirement age in France, a law enacted by the French president.
For the first time in more than 20 years, this is a united May Day. All the confederations will march together in the hope of achieving the largest mobilization since 2002. At that time, 1.3 million people took to the streets, 400,000 in Paris. In 2002, the appearance of Jean-Marie Le Pen in the second round of the presidential elections had unleashed a civic assault and a human tide in the streets. This Monday, the unions do not expect to achieve the same results, but they intend to show the Government that the rejection of the pension reform has not disappeared.
In the space of two years, the three main French unions will change direction. The changes began with the new general secretary of the trade union center, Sophie Binet, the first woman to assume the leadership of the CGT. An election well received by the rest of the unions and, according to analysts, bad news for the French executive, which is committed to the divisions of the CGT, which keeps the union front together. “It is the determination of all the union organizations to remain united and side by side what our force did and will continue to do”, guarantees the new leader of the CGT.
Changes that come after a delicate period for French unions. During the first five years, Emmanuel Macron ignored the social partners and workers’ organizations, although during the pandemic there was a resumption of social dialogue. In his second term, the head of state promised a change in method and is now looking for new interlocutors.
In the near future, the union union of the last four months may be compromised. “We won’t stop until the pension reform is withdrawn”, Sophie Binet’s slogan. But the reformist unions stopped believing in a possible withdrawal. With 12 days of mobilization, sometimes massive, the text was promulgated two weeks ago. They do not want to embark on a succession of wild and stagnant actions. The government says it wants to open new negotiations with unions on future labor law, burnout, retraining, a “work life pact” promised by Emmanuel Macron.
It is impossible for organizations like CFDT and CFTC to reject dialogue. Laurent Berger repeats that he will continue to do his job as a trade unionist, to advocate for “better conditions for workers”. However, the CFDTP leader asked for a few weeks, a period of 100 days stipulated by the government that he wants to calm down the social protests.
If the mobilization of this Monday is a success, the unions will recover a position of strength to take advantage of the upcoming social files and that the Government of Emmanuel Macron pay the price for the obstinacy of the pension reform.
Source: TSF
