The three main trade union confederations organised a national demonstration in Brussels on 16 May in protest at government plans to reform the pensions system. The estimated 70000-strong march was nearly three times the size of a similar demonstration in December, showing the strength of opposition to government policy which includes raising the pension age from 65 to 67. Some of the key demands include a minimum pension that delivers an adequate standard of living, gradual alignment of private and public sector pensions and proper account taken of arduous jobs and sickness and injury in calculating pensions.
Massive demonstration against pension reforms
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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.
Massive campaign against pension reforms continues
All the main trade union confederations – including CGT, CFDT, FO, UNSA and CFE-CGC – are maintaining their campaigns of strikes and protests against the government’s pension reforms and its key proposal to increase the pension age from 62 to 64. The fifth day of action was due to take place on 16 February with a sixth planned for 7 March and the threat of all-out strike action. The joint trade union and student movement campaign sent a message to all MPs arguing that they should reject the plans, challenging all the government’s main arguments about the need for reform and in particular the