Koreans, Turks, Swiss, Colombians, Americans, Spaniards: dozens of foreign union representatives demonstrate Monday in Paris alongside officials of the inter-union, noted AFP journalists. Although Labor Day is celebrated on May 1 all over the world, the presence of these demonstrators, while “we hear a lot about comparisons with other European countries, shows forcefully that the European trade unions support the movement in France against the extension of the legal retirement age”, rejoiced Cyril Chabanier, the president of the CFTC.
“Solidarity of the French”
American from California, David Huerta, 56, represents the union SEIU-USWW, present in the service sector. He says he is “in solidarity with the French” and happy to be “here today, in France, after all the strikes they have carried out to preserve their pensions”. “It’s not just about preserving pensions in France, but around the world. People should have the right to retire with dignity,” he said, saying he felt “strengthened” by his presence in the Paris parade. “It’s awesome, I love it.”
Responsible for the international union KMWU-KCTU, representing South Korean metalworkers, Chong Hyewon considers it “a great honor to be able to stand alongside French workers”. “It’s amazing to be in the homeland of democracy and human rights, and for the government to use Article 49.3 to dodge any real public debate in the face of obvious opposition from the people,” she says. , explaining that “Korean workers face the same struggles”.
“Macron is totally isolated on the international scene”
“What is striking today and which really does a lot of good is the international presence”, commented Benoît Teste, secretary general of the FSU. “It makes a lot of sense because it means that this movement is not the refractory Gauls as some would like to believe”. For Simon Duteil (Solidaires), “all the comrades who have come from abroad, it shows that the support is real, that the question of the sharing of wealth does not arise only in France, but everywhere”, and that ” Macron is totally isolated on the international scene.” “We thanked them for coming, they said thank you for welcoming us”, “we are very proud that they are there and they are very proud to be here”, summed up the secretary general of Unsa, Laurent Escure.