On 29 March, EPSU affiliates, including the OSZSP health union, joined the national demonstration against an increase in the pension age that was called by OS KOVO, the largest trade union in the country. Trade unions are concerned about rumours that the government might increase the retirement age from 65 to 68. They are not only demanding that there should be no increase but that there should be measures to allow for earlier retirement, particularly in arduous and dangerous occupations. The CMKOS trade union confederation has launched a petition against any pension age increase.
Trade unions mobilise against threat to increase pension age
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Health union vows to challenge pension age increase
At a meeting on 22 October the health workers' union confirmed its opposition to the government's pensions reforms and said it would fight to restore the right to early retirement for health workers. The reforms, including raising the pension age to 65, have met with widespread opposition across the trade union movement not just over the measures themselves but also the way the government introduced them with little or no consultation. The law takes effect from 1 January 2019 and the health workers' union is considering legal action to challenge the changes to early retirement rights.
Unions continue to mobilise against pension changes
Trade union action against the government’s pensions proposals has continued across several sectors, particularly transport. The latest main national mobilisation against pension reform took place on 9 January. While not all trade union organisations are involved in the strike action and demonstrations, all are opposed in some way to the plans to merge pension arrangements across sectors and increase the retirement age and/or increase the number of years of contributions needed for a full pension. There are particular concerns about arduous work in some sectors, like sewage treatment, where
Massive mobilisation against planned pension reforms
Trade unions in many sectors took strike action and joined protests across the country on 5 December against proposals to reform the pensions system. There is widespread concern that the reforms will lead to later retirement to get decent pensions or retirement on lower benefits. Workers in the transport and education sectors are particularly concerned but the actions, including an 800,000-strong demonstration in Paris attracted wide support. Further action took place on 6 December and is planned for the coming weeks.