2023-10-13 20:10:17
“Live, work, age with dignity”. Thousands of people demonstrated in France on Friday for wages, with unions hoping to influence the social conference scheduled for Monday despite a mobilization far from the records of the recent pension battle.
More than six months after the adoption of the pension reform, the inter-union emphasizes purchasing power undermined by inflation: “this is the number 1 subject of concern for workers”, insisted Marylise Léon, general secretary of the CFDT. The unions consider it “necessary for gender equality, an increase in salaries, the minimum wage, pensions, minimum social benefits and study grants”.
20,000 demonstrators in Paris, 200,000 across the country
Some 230 actions were announced in many cities, but the processions were far from the levels of the spring, when the million demonstrators had been reached several times, according to the authorities, as part of the mobilization on pensions. 200,000 people demonstrated throughout the country, according to the CGT, including 20,000 in Paris.
While predicting a “strong” mobilization, CGT number one Sophie Binet recognized that it would “probably not be at the level of those against pension reform”. But, she judged on the sidelines of an inter-union press conference in the capital, “it’s normal, we have experienced six months of historic mobilization”, “we cannot beat French records all the time “.
In Marseille, there were 10,000 according to the CGT, 2,100 according to the prefecture, demanding to be able to “live, work, age with dignity”. For comparison, during the last day of mobilization on pensions on June 6, the unions had advanced 50,000 participants.
“On Monday, we will talk about salaries from starter to dessert”
On the transport side, train traffic was slightly disrupted on certain regional lines but normal for the TGV. In Île-de-France, disruptions affected certain RER lines, but in Paris, metros, buses and trams ran normally. Air traffic was also disrupted in France and Europe. On the education side, the ministry reported a low strike rate of 3.65% on average among teachers.
Union leaders hope that this day will make it possible to weigh in on discussions with the head of government Élisabeth Borne during the social conference on Monday at the CESE (Economic, Social and Environmental Council). This mobilization must serve as a “springboard”, argued Sophie Binet.
“On Monday, we are going to talk about salaries from starter to dessert,” Frédéric Souillot (FO) also stressed on Friday on France 2, determined to “put pressure” on the government and employers.
The unions will also demand “conditionality of public aid to businesses”, i.e. the maintenance of exemptions from contributions provided that the sector does not have a minimum below the minimum wage. But some fear that there will be “not many effective proposals” at the end of the conference.
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