May Day in France is celebrated with a united union parade. A “historic” day for the union centrals, since it has been 15 years since the unions have not united under the same banner for International Workers’ Day. 300 demonstrations were announced across the country, which also marks the 13th day of mobilization against the pension reform.
This is “a great day of union unity”, describe the union leaders in the Paris procession. The unions want to make this May 1 a “massive” and “popular” demonstration against the pension reform. Emmanuel Macron’s executive awaits the end of the social protests, before proceeding with other labor reforms.
For the researcher Karel Yon and a sociologist specializing in social movements, the protests since January already represent a victory for the unions. “It is a historic moment because we have never seen such a massive mobilization that lasted for so long. Of course we have already had large social protests, with millions of people in the streets. But a movement of several months with this intensity, and the mobilizations of this May Day will confirm it, creates a new moment for the movement, which allowed the union movements to reaffirm political and social commitments. And this represents a moment of victory for the unions”, defends the researcher.
The French executive also prepared a “historic” security device to accompany the 300 demonstrations that take place this Monday. According to the Ministry of the Interior, between 500 and 600,000 people are expected in Paris on Labor Day. The Paris court validated, without restrictions, the use of drones by the police during the demonstration in the French capital. A measure contested by the Association for the Defense of Constitutional Freedoms, Jean-Baptiste Soufron. “The problem is that the decision made by civil governments is illegal. The drone cameras that will film the protesters have no legal basis, which corresponds to French law, to do so. This is unacceptable because at the moment what can only get worse,” warns the association’s lawyer.
The government wants to stop social movements. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne wants to hear from the unions this week to try to resume dialogue. According to Thomas Cavel, general secretary of the CFDT for railway workers, “the last few months have left wounds and resuming dialogue with the executive will not be easy.”
As of tomorrow, Tuesday, the deputies will return to the Chamber of the National Assembly, after a two-week recess. The oppositions have already warned that they will not make life easier for the executive of Emmanuel Macron.
Source: TSF
