Unions test their capacity to mobilize with a day of action for wages and against “austerity” policies | EUROtoday

They all get again within the saddle collectively however with a little much less enthusiasm. Four months after their closing day of action against pension reform, the eight predominant worker unions and 5 youth protection organizations are making ready to as soon as once more occupy public house, Friday October 13. Three slogans had been put ahead: ” wages “, “gender equality” and opposition to the policies of“austerity”. An initiative that enables the protagonists to exhibit their muscle groups, three days earlier than a “social conference” throughout which they need to talk about with the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, about remuneration and profession developments.

Friday’s mobilization is an element of an attraction launched by the European Trade Union Confederation (CES) on the degree of the Old Continent. In France, demonstrations and rallies are deliberate in practically 220 locations. No one, together with employee representatives, expects ” a tsunami “in accordance to the method of Benoît Teste, common secretary of the FSU, even when “we feel that things are simmering and that the anger is there”.

Cyril Chabanier, the president of the CFTC, says that he “had more difficulty mobilizing” than through the motion against the postponement of the authorized retirement age, from mid-January to early June. Which is ” normal “in accordance to him: many ladies and males have suffered “lost wages” by putting within the first half of the yr, with out stopping the federal government from pushing by its venture. Hence the sensation, fairly widespread after this defeat of the inter-union, of having “a bit hungover”, confides an activist. Finally, the date chosen for hitting the streets – a Friday, due to this fact – hardly lends itself to demonstrations of pressure.

Disruptions are anticipated to be comparatively restricted

This is why this day of action ought to trigger comparatively restricted disruption within the functioning of companies and public companies. The SNCF anticipates disruptions on sure regional traces and in Ile-de-France, however with regular visitors for the TGVs. At RATP, no notable difficulties had been introduced. In the airline sector, then again, a important proportion of flights have been canceled. As for nationwide schooling personnel, their participation within the motion may very well be famous in a sure quantity of institutions, in accordance to Mr. Teste.

Even if they’re struggling, for the second, to draw individuals into the streets, all of the union leaders need to take benefit of this day of mobilization to “to make heard the primary concern of workers at the moment, namely purchasing power”, as defined by Marylise Léon, the overall secretary of the CFDT. A petition of precept defended by all his counterparts. “We want to obtain the opening of salary negotiations in all branches and all companies”, insists Sophie Binet, the chief of the CGT. Frédéric Souillot, FO primary, calls for “an upward revision of all pay slips”. It is critical to put “a blow of pressure in a period where inflation remains at high levels”provides Mr. Chabanier.

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