World Economy: A stronger mobilization in the provinces than in Paris

May 25, 2008

A stronger mobilization in the provinces than in Paris

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In Paris, about 50 000 people paraded yesterday. In the procession, few retirees were present but public officials and employees of private cotoyaient.
In Paris, about 50 000 people paraded yesterday. In the procession, few retirees were present but public officials and employees of private cotoyaient.
The unions have gathered between 300 000 and 700 000 persons against the passage to 41 years of contributions. They have not yet defined their strategy for further movement, in the face of the strong government.

Neither a wave nor a failure. The demonstrations against the pension reform yesterday attended by some 300 000 participants across France according to police, between 430 000 (FP) 700 and 000 (CGT), according to the unions, which targeted 500 000. The processions were particularly provided in Marseilles, Toulouse, Lille, Nantes and Grenoble.

In the capital, about 50 000 people paraded. From Bernard Thibault (CGT), Bernard Van Craeynest (CGC), François Chérèque (CGT) Gerard Aschieri (FSU), Jean-Claude Mailly (FP) Jacques Voisin (CFTC), Alain Olive (Unsa) Annick Coupe (Solidarity) trade union leaders marched together behind a banner "for the defence of retirement solidarity." In the procession, some retirees, a majority of public officials (8% officials have made about strike, according Bercy), but also employees of private (Air France, banking, food, metallurgy…). Polo red and CGT cap on his head, Claude, 52, an employee at an American manufacturer of computer servers, explained his presence with a bitter smile: "37 and a half years, 40 years, now 41 years: I have the impression that I run behind retirement and I wonder if j'arriverai to catch up! We are asked to work longer but in my company, which makes profits, it puts everyone outside to 58 years. "

Some took the opportunity to advance other demands: higher wages for this steward of a hospital, abandoning the deletion of posts for a handful of students, regularization of undocumented workers for several groups.

This day will be enough to make it the government? The unions know that not "The mobilization is a little disappointing," acknowledged even aside a trade union leader. But they recall that in 2006 they had managed to return to the attack, with demonstrations increasingly powerful, to get the head of PBS. "Turnout was fairly good in private, although we did not really called for the strike. It was therefore had reservations on that side, "says Jean-Louis Malys (CFDT).
Leading reform "quickly and well"
However, unions were kept from yesterday to announce a new day of mobilisation. "The ball is in the government," said the CGT. "We will rapidly. A phone call is quick, "says Jean-Claude Mailly (FP).

Yesterday evening on France 3, Labour Minister Xavier Bertrand, merely repeating that the government's project was "balanced" and should "protect the retirement of all French." At the Élysée, we intend to carry out reform "quickly and well" in consultation with the unions on specific issues to implement (including the employment of older workers plan), but without seeking the signing of this or that organization after a negotiation Solemn impossible to obtain, estimated at approaching elections for industrial relations which promote the bidding.

World Economy

A stronger mobilization in the provinces than in Paris

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