Fifth day of mobilizations in France

Paris, (EFE).- The French unions today called on the Government of Emmanuel Macron to “listen” to the discontent of the “world of workers” during the fifth day of mobilizations against the reform of the pension system that the Executive wants to implement, less massive than the previous ones but still numerous.

“Clearly, the government must listen to what is happening and betting on a possible loss of momentum of the movement is crazy,” warned Laurent Berger, leader of the French Democratic Confederation of Labor (CFDT), in statements to the media from Albí.

That city in the south of France – with less than 100,000 inhabitants but symbolic for having been the home of the iconic socialist politician Jean Jaurès – was chosen to be the main focus of attention for this new day of protests, with the main union leaders present there, instead of in Paris, to thus demonstrate the transversality of his pulse to the Government.

“The mobilization continues and the determination is greater than ever,” stressed Philippe Martínez, from the combative General Confederation of Labor (CGT), in that same place.

Fifth strike since January

For the workers’ representatives, this new day of mobilizations -the fourth of inter-professional strikes and the fifth, in total, of nationwide demonstrations since the presentation of the bill last January- has been a new success despite having had a less massive following.

“The discontent, the combativeness and the determination are intact,” stressed Berger, who recalled, for example, that even though in part of France it is school vacation time, the demonstrations are being numerous.

“We are in a social movement that is the largest in the last 30 or 35 years,” added the CFDT leader.

In Albi, the unions expect about 30,000 people today. In cities like Montpellier or Rennes, the unions estimated this morning about 12,000 demonstrators and 90,000 in Marseille.

In Paris, the great march has already begun to advance, but it will take place mainly in the afternoon and it is also expected to be less massive than in previous calls.

Less tracking in transport

Regarding the strikes, they have also had less follow-up. For example, according to union sources quoted by the BFMTV channel, at the SNCF railway the strikes amount to 14% of the workforce, compared to 25% in the last strike.

In any case, the unions seek with this new day of protests to keep the pulse in the streets while the National Assembly (lower house) debates the reform proposal presented by the Government and awaits March 7.

For that day they plan a great show of force that, if successful, will paralyze the country with the project already in the hands of the Senate.

The unions directly reject the two main points of the reform: the increase from 62 to 64 years of the minimum retirement age and that the increase in the contribution period from 42 to 43 years to have a full pension be brought forward to 2027 (it is expected to enter into force in 2035).