“This mobilization is hardening and it is long-term”, exclaims Pierre Licout, branch co-secretary of the FSU (Unitary Trade Union Federation), from the start of the demonstration, this afternoon, in Chartres, for Act II. of the mobilization against the pension reform project.
In the ranks of the demonstration, the participants consider themselves to be more numerous than last time. According to the authorities, 6,000 people were present, 7,500 according to our own count and 15,000 according to the unions CFDT (French Democratic Confederation of Labour) and FSU.
On condition of anonymity, some trade union representatives believe that the figures for Thursday 19 January had been overestimated by the authorities, in order, they believe, to “demonstrate that the following mobilizations would be weaker”.
The pension reform: back in pictures on a demonstration day in Eure-et-Loir
A mobilization party that lasts?
The protesters encountered along the way say they are ready to make this movement a lasting one. “We will return as many times as necessary”, predicts Pascal Valaeys, general secretary of the CFDT services in Eure-et-Loir.
“We are not giving up. The code word for all the unions is to pull the 64-year-olds out of this reform. »
Words confirmed by all the protesters. Some high school students, like Maurane and Mathieu, came to demonstrate for the first time. “We understood why we had to mobilize. We discussed it with our professor of economics and social sciences. We will demonstrate again and for as long as necessary,” explains the 17-year-old student. They came from the Jehan-de-Beauce high school, others from the Fulbert high school, two institutions in Chartres.
“People are tired of exhaustion at work, while the French have been more productive since the switch to 35 hours,” said Jean-Luc Roubaud, branch secretary of Unsa (National Union of Autonomous Trade Unions. This reform affects everyone and brings together all unions and all professions .”
says Jean-Luc Roubaud (branch secretary of Unsa, National Union of Autonomous Trade Unions)
They pointed out inequalities and hardship
Regardless of age and social-professional category, “the protesters will return as long as the reform is not withdrawn or revised”, according to Sébastien Macquet, a 47-year-old maintenance technician.
“You would have thought that the movement is running out of money with purchasing power falling every month, but a reform that affects the retirement age, it affects everyone.”
Christine Lemoal (Secretary General of CFDT in Eure-et-Loir)
Pierre Licout from FSU is part of this same logic, namely a sustainable mobilization. “Some protesters feared that the last mobilization was just punctual, the government hoped. We prove today that all the unions and the majority of the population are against the reform.”
We are a quiet, determined force that will remain mobilized. We are determined to have this unjustified reform project withdrawn.
Some have declared themselves on strike to their employers, others have simply left work for a few hours to come and express their displeasure in the streets.
“I declared myself a striker during the first demonstration. Today I just took an hour off. Next time I will declare myself a striker again. I allow myself two strike days a month, as long as necessary, to counter this reform,” assesses a Chartrain professor of history and geography.
Around 11,000 protesters on 19 January in Eure-et-Loir: Relive our live mobilization against the pension reform
Similar situation for Alexia Logeais, responsible for support between associations and companies. “I took a day off to protest. Next time I’ll strike. We’ll see how long I can afford it financially, but I remain mobilized. When I work in the social field, what affects me the most is the retirement age and the inequalities that this system creates between women and men. »
Demonstration in Chartres, Tuesday 31 January 2023, against the pension reform project. Photo: Quentin Reix.
“Risk of blocking” and next mobilizations
“We could increase wages, which would allow us to contribute more”, testified Jean-Michel, 43 years old. “It’s impossible not to be angry, it’s not normal that billionaires keep getting rich while we work like crazy. The government takes us for hams. There is a real problem with the distribution of wealth. Some put themselves on their backs. “If Macron does not want to give in, he exposes himself to the risk of the country being blocked”, said Éric Jarry, general secretary of the branch union FO.
If Macron does not want to give in, he exposes himself to the risk of blocking the country.
The regional council’s deputy chairman, Jean-François Bridet (Ecology and Solidarity), was also among the demonstrators. “I support this movement 300% against a government that runs an unequal economic structure.”
The union at branch level will meet on Thursday to agree on a joint organization on whether or not to hold demonstrations on Tuesday 7 February and Saturday 11 February.
More protesters, fewer strikers: what to remember from this Tuesday’s mobilization against the pension reform
Thomas Desprez
.
