The CGT, Solidaires and FSU, and youth organizations, are calling for a strike and demonstration on Tuesday to demand the repeal of the pension reform and an increase in wages.
Published on 09/30/2024 10:58
Reading time: 3 min Demonstrators during the Labor Day parade on May 1, 2024 in Paris. (ERIC BRONCARD / HANS LUCAS / AFP)
“It’s the return match against pension reform.” The general secretary of the CGT, Sophie Binet, is not abdicating and assured, Monday September 23 on franceinfo, that she could “obtain its repeal”. His union, as well as Solidaires, FSU and youth organizations, are calling for a strike on Tuesday October 1 for this purpose and to demand an increase in wages. In Paris, the demonstration will start at 2 p.m. from Place Denfert-Rochereau and head towards the Bastille. It will take place just before the general policy declaration of the Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, scheduled for 3 p.m. at the National Assembly. Franceinfo takes stock of the expected disruptions.
Few disruptions to fear at SNCF
The CGT and SUD-Rail called on railway workers to mobilize. A strike notice was given from Monday, 7 p.m. to Wednesday, 8 a.m. In a communiquéthese two unions denounce the “liquidation of Fret SNCF, the creation of a TER subsidiary, the hiring freeze, union repression and announcements of salary austerity”. In particular, they require “stopping the breakdown of the social contract and the process of subsidizing freight railway workers”the subsidiary from which the European Commission is demanding 5 billion euros, “the granting of a true 13th month” for all railway workers as well as “revaluation” or the “redesign” work bonuses, equally for all.
If the SNCF offers, on its site Internetd’“Cancel” or “to postpone and “[d’]to exchange” his ticket for this day, traffic should only be slightly disrupted. He will be “almost normal” for TGVs. “Some traffic could be slightly disrupted on certain regional trains, as well as certain Intercity connections”specifies the company. Line by line forecasts will only be communicated during the day on Monday.
Expected mobilization in education
Teachers are expected to join the processions planned across the country. “To finally obtain positions and the end of the clash of knowledge. Let us not give up, our demands are just and we are legitimate to express them.”advances CGT Educ’action on the social network. On his site internetthe Snes-FSU union justifies its participation to defend “wages”, “public services” and demand the repeal of pension reform. “No new measures are planned for 2024 and 2025”assures the union which adds that“you have to wait seventeen years after tenure to earn 400 euros more”. He also argues that“at least it was missing [un ou une] teacher[e] in 56% of middle and high schools” at the start of the school year. We still do not know whether this call will be massively followed, but it is the baptism of fire for the new Minister of National Education, Anne Genetet, whom the teaching unions see as “a casting error”.
Just under 200 gatherings planned
It is difficult to know whether this call for movement will be massively followed. On Sunday, the CGT identified 179 gathering places already recorded for Tuesday. For comparison, the union had more than 200 on May 1 and 250 during the last day of mobilization against pension reform, in June. The Solidaires union joined the processions in “concrete reaction to the election result” European and legislative. To fight the extreme right, we must respond to “a social anger that has lasted for years”argued co-delegate Murielle Guilbert. Several youth organizations, including the Student Union, Unef, Fidl and the High School Union will also be mobilized.
But the union union, which had prevailed during the mobilization for purchasing power or the battle against pension reform, is no longer relevant. The CFDT, FO, CGE-CGC, CFTC and Unsa refused to join the mobilization. “It is not the habit of the CFDT to say ‘because there is a return to school, there is a mobilization’”explained the number 2 of the organization, Yvan Ricordeau. Before a big event, “we need to be able to mobilize businesses and administrations between the Prime Minister’s general policy declaration and before the parliamentary debate on pensions [le 31 octobre]“, estimated the leader of FO, Frédéric Souillot, interviewed by AFP.
Finally, “demonstrating on the day the Prime Minister makes his general policy speech is still a little complicated”judged last week on franceinfo the leader of the CFTC, Cyril Chabanier. “We will listen, he warnedand if we see that things are not going in the right direction, we do not rule out being able to mobilize.”
