After five months of mobilization against the pension reform, Laurent Berger confirmed participating, Tuesday, June 6, in his “last” demonstration as secretary general of the CFDT. “The pension match is ending, whether we like it or not”, he also conceded from the head of the Parisian procession, still welcoming the “still significant mobilization” of this 14th day convened since January by the inter-union.
“This is the last demonstration against the pension reform, on this format, we are not going to tell a story, insisted the union leader. […] But there is still anger and resentment. We will have to cultivate this mobilization to continue working on wages, purchasing power, working conditions and social dialogue. “Laurent Berger also confirmed that he wanted to take the field, after the handover at the head of the CFDT to Marylise Léon, on June 21: “I will first be silent, rest. And I will say when the time comes what I will do. »
In the meantime, he hopes that the National Assembly will be able to vote, on June 8, on the bill of the Freedom, Independent, Overseas and Territories (LIOT) group on the return to 62 of the legal age of departure for retirement. retirement. “But if this is not the case, the possibilities of rolling back the government will be behind us, warns Laurent Berger. We’re not going to tell stories. I would love to see two million people take to the streets again next week. But this is not true. »
“Likely there are other demonstrations”
At his side in Paris, the number one of the CGT, Sophie Binet, repeated that she wanted “real negotiations”, also referring to wages, but also the “Macron orders” on the Labor Code and “women’s equality men”. Even if “retirements will always remain a fight”, the objective now is to “win concrete progress”, she said, affirming that “the inter-union will remain united” and judging “probable that there is further demonstrations in view of the anger in the country”.
The union official is already calling for a new method on the side of the executive, accused of “sweeping out of hand” all the proposals emanating from the workers’ representatives. “It is the government that refuses to negotiate seriously with the trade unions,” she lamented. The only thing he agrees to do is to discuss on the basis of his agenda. But his regressive government and employer agenda, we do not want it. »
The leaders of the inter-union have planned “a video exchange” on June 13, reported Benoît Teste (FSU) to “make a complete assessment” of their day of mobilization and the vote, Thursday, at the National Assembly, on the proposal to repeal the pension reform.
At the same time, the hypothesis of a meeting at the Elysée Palace divides the union leaders. Cyril Chabanier (CFTC) “thinks we have to go because it’s a good time to negotiate on other subjects” than pensions. But Frédéric Souillot (FO) let it be known that his organization “will not go” to this “social conference which would be in the pipes”, promising to “attack [in front of justice] all the implementing decrees which will be published” . Same reluctance from François Hommeril (CFE-CGC) who “does not want to go to a communication operation by the President of the Republic”.
