A new round in the street. More than six months after the adoption of the pension reform, the unions are calling for a strike this Friday, October 13 to defend purchasing power. CFDT, CGT, FO, CFTC, CFE-CGC, Unsa, Solidaires and FSU, with several youth organizations, hope to mobilize the French “against austerity and for increased salaries, pensions and gender equality “.
Three days before the social conference promised by the government, union officials hope to maintain the colors found over the past year. But can the fight for wages really revive social mobilization?
Reasons for hope for unions
In continuation of the demonstrations against the pension reform, the unions are moving forward in this new struggle in a common way. “One of the seeds planted during this mobilization is that of unity. This changes negotiations with employers and with the government. They can no longer choose their interlocutors as suits them, since we are standing together,” assured Sophie Binet on Sunday in the gallery. The new general secretary of the CGT also gave this interview in the company of… Marylise Léon, the new boss of the CFDT. Proof of the cordial understanding between the two union forces.
“We don’t agree on everything, but we are in continuity with pensions,” says Diego Melchior, CFDT Ile-de-France general secretary. The previous mobilization created a common bond, we also got to know each other. It’s positive to work together on specific subjects like purchasing power,” adds the member of the national office. The last fight, despite its failure, allowed the unions to put themselves back at the center of the political game. “There is a positive dynamic. A good example to give is on Agirc-Arrco [avec la revalorisation des pensions du privé]. It was not won, but the employers will sign the agreement,” he continues, while he is strongly criticized by the government. To further illustrate their unity, the social partners will also give a joint press conference on Friday morning at the Force Ouvrière headquarters in Paris.
“This type of isolated day is not a recipe for success”
But despite still significant inflation (4.9% in September), which could push the French to take to the streets, the success of this Friday’s mobilization is far from certain. “This type of isolated day, with not much before and nothing planned after, which is not part of a social movement against a specific reason, like a text of law, does not generally prove successful,” puts Stéphane Sirot into perspective , historian specializing in social movements. “Retirement was a subject that spoke to everyone, but it seems more difficult to me to build a national mobilization on salaries, which are often played out on a more local scale, in companies,” adds the specialist.
“We will be very far from the peaks of 1 million demonstrators that we experienced on pensions. I fear for the unions that this day will look more like a demonstration of weakness than of strength,” continues Stéphane Sirot. And on the union side, the optimist also remains measured. “It won’t be at the pension level, we have to be lucid, especially when we have already had 14 days of mobilization in the year…,” breathes Diego Melchior. But the motto is unifying, it is a day organized in a European framework, so participation will be honest.” Despite doubts about the scale of the mobilization, Sophie Binet has already indicated that she wants to make this day a “springboard” before the launch of the social conference next Monday, at the invitation of Elisabeth Borne.