Pension reform: “Probably the mobilization will run out, but we hope that other subjects will join people later”

Keep fighting until you stop believing. Don’t turn the page on pensions when assessing further and future points of social tension that won’t manifest themselves in the coming months. This is the paradoxical situation faced by the opponents of the reform, which returns the legal retirement age from 62 to 64 years.

All refused on the fourteenth day of mobilization, which took place on Tuesday, June 6, calling for a last stand by the union. After almost six months of fighting, days of wages lost in the turmoil, the reform that was passed and whose executive orders are beginning to be published looked very similar. Not surprisingly, turnout has been at its lowest since the start of the social movement. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 281,000 people marched across France. and if CGT declares “Over 900,000 Demonstrators”This is also its lowest rate since the beginning of January.

“Whether we like it or not, the pension game is over”, admitted Laurent Berger, before the Paris demonstration. For the CFDT General Secretary, for whom this was the last demonstration at the helm of the Central before handing over to Merylise Leon on June 21, “There is always anger, resentment” And the union will have to cultivate “This mobilization will continue” on other topics. Her CGT colleague, Sophie Binet, also believes the goal is now “Achieving concrete progress” even when “Retirement will always be a struggle”.

Rage Against the Union

However, there is “It is likely that there will be other manifestations in the country”– he added at the press conference held in front of the National Assembly. The venue has been chosen to show that workers’ organizations are keeping up the pressure on MPs, who will have to debate on Thursday the group’s Freedom, Independent, Overseas and Territories Bill, which aims to abolish the statutory retirement age.

But almost two months after the reform was announced, the malaise, resignation and disgust are palpable. In Paris, the police prefecture counted 31,000 participants, the CGT 300,000. Anny (people whose names are only visible who wished to remain anonymous), 75, first notes that while the trade unions are still strong, “There are very few people” compared to the previous mobilization. According to him, the profile of the participants was more diverse “Thirties”Families with children, ordinary individuals who “Hold Signs” with original slogans “at work”. “I’m sad, disappointed, Sorry about the former biology researcher who gets 600 euros in pension. I no longer feel the vitality that was present during the last demonstrations. I think people have given up, unfortunately. »