After some trial and error, preceded by minor friction, they managed to agree on elements of common language. In a press release published on Monday, October 7, the eight main unions reaffirm their hostility towards the law of April 14, 2023, which raised the legal retirement age: “64 years is still no! »they insist. The signatories of the text thus want to demonstrate that they continue fighting together against the reform enacted a year and a half ago, at the same time that the Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, invites them to sit around a table to” improve “ the text.
Although their opposition to retirement at 64 is well known, the fact that workers’ organizations repeat it, for the umpteenth time, is not without interest, given the questions that have arisen recently following the positions adopted by various protagonists. On September 8, in France Inter, the general secretary of the CFDT, Marylise Léon, declared that if a consultation on the issue of pensions was launched, “At a minimum, we suspend the reform [de 2023] ». His intervention is intriguing because it seems to reflect a request for a moratorium and not for the elimination of age measurement.
Five days later, in a letter addressed to Mr. Barnier, the civil servants’ unions expressed the wish “that the 2023 pension reform be suspended to be able to start new discussions”. Also in this case the formula draws attention because it refrains from calling for an end to the extension of the legal age. This choice is also the subject of debate among the co-authors of the letter: “We preferred the word “repeal,” but others found it too divisive. “We ended up accepting the term “suspension” because it is important for unions to remain united during the period.”says Christian Grolier, director of FO-Public Service.
“Our determination remains unwavering”
The content of the press release published on Monday shows that it is also the result of a compromise: the eight members of the coalition thus urge Barnier to “immediately suspend the reform to allow its repeal”. A twist that satisfies all points of view.
“The nuances that exist between us could have made us believe that a kind of uncertainty had established itself within the inter-union relationship.confides Benoît Teste, general secretary of the FSU. But, in reality, we all agree on the essentials: the elimination of the age measures adopted in 2023 remains our horizon. » According to Cyril Chabanier, president of the CFTC, this speech should be given to indicate that the workers’ representatives do not give up their main demand, while the executive proposes a dialogue on pensions.
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