Unions mobilise over pension cuts

After the major national demonstration on 7 September and further action on 15 September to coincide with the vote in the National Assembly, unions are now mobilising for the 23 September in anticipation of the debate beginning in the Senate on 5 October. The demonstration on 7 September prompted a response from the government but unions still reject proposals that will mean deferring the retirement age from 60 to 62 and the age at which a full pension is paid from 65 to 67. The unions are also challenging the resulting additional years of contributions that will be required and continue to

The CGT and FO confederations organised demonstrations across France on 18 October calling for action to increase pay across all sectors, including an increase in the minimum wage. Their demands also covered pensions and social security and defence of the right to strike. The unions estimate that around 300,000 people joined the 180 actions around the country with 70,000 participating in the main demonstration in Paris. Also on the 18th, the CFDT organised strike action in the private health and care sector in protest at stagnating salaries in the face of increased profits for the big private

Unions are managing to maintain a high level of support for a series of demonstrations and days of action against the government’s planned pension changes. Mobilisations on the 7 and 23 September were followed by action on 2 October involving both private and public sector trade unions. The debate on the pension changes was due to start in the senate on 5 October and unions are planning a series of actions over the coming days to keep up the pressure with strike action planned for 12 October. [Read more at > joint union communiqué (FR)->http://www.cgt.fr/spip.php?article37788] [And at > FO