Pensions: the inter-union meets Thursday, no new day of action in sight

June 15, 2023

The inter-union which led the battle against pensions meets Thursday evening at the headquarters of the CFE-CGC, a way of showing that it remains united even if there will be no new day of strikes and demonstrations against the reform, in any case before the summer.

The intersyndicale which brings together the eight main French unions and five youth organizations did not meet on June 6 on the evening of the 14th day of mobilization, contrary to a well-established routine, and has since communicated neither on this day , or on the failure of the Liot group’s bill to repeal the reform, on June 8.

The time for each of its members to learn the lessons of a “retirement” sequence which is ending, when the law has been promulgated and the first decrees have appeared, even if the unions claim not to “turn the page “.

As suggested by the statements of Laurent Berger (CFDT) last week, the inter-union will not announce a new day of strikes and demonstrations.

“Before the summer I think there won’t be any. We’ll see tomorrow what the inter-union will say in the press release. We’re going to prepare and build for after the summer,” said Wednesday on Sud Radio le general secretary of Force Ouvrière, Frédéric Souillot.

For Dominique Corona (Unsa) the purpose of this meeting and the press conference that will follow is to “continue to show unity”. “We said we were working together, we demonstrate it,” he told AFP.

“Working groups” to develop common proposals should be announced. On May 30, one of the representatives of the CGT within the intersyndicale, Sébastien Menesplier, had mentioned the establishment of such groups on work orders and unemployment insurance.

In recent days, tensions have emerged within the inter-union, with statements not always pleasant between the numbers one of the CFDT, Laurent Berger, and his counterpart of the CGT, Sophie Binet (CGT).

“Laurent Berger hands over (June 21 to his number 2 Marylise Léon, Ed). It was perhaps his last demonstration, as far as the inter-union is concerned, we will meet next week and we will discuss the consequences together”, had pinged Ms. Binet last week on franceinfo.

“We will see if Sophie Binet calls for a mobilization by the end of June”, had swept in response Mr. Berger.