Since January 19, mass demonstrations against the pension reform have been linked while the text is examined by the National Assembly. Two new dates are planned, this Saturday and Thursday, February 16. Despite the pressure from the street and these oppositions, the government does not bend. Faced with what could soon look like a dead end, the inter-union is increasingly openly discussing the option of a tougher movement, with renewable strikes or even blockages in the weeks to come. A question arises: Laurent Berger, who seemed to dictate the union tempo so far, is he really ready to embark the CFDT in this risky strategy?
In any case, Laurent Berger’s speech has changed. Before January 31, he held this speech: “The hardening at all costs is to lose part of the opinion. The CFDT, it is not to call for a renewable strike”. Tuesday, at the head of the procession, the leader of the CFDT was much less categorical: “Nothing is excluded, except what would affect people or property. We will remain legal, always. We have to do a big mobilization on Saturday, then we’ll see what to do”.
“Cultural shift”
If the government does not give up, Laurent Berger could therefore call for renewable strikes in transport or energy, for example, even if it means penalizing the French, which he categorically refused to do so far. According to political scientist Dominique Andolfatto, this is a major shift for the boss of the reformist union. years. It is heartbreaking for the government: not only did it not return the CFDT which did not support its reform, but in addition it could evolve towards a harder movement”, he underlines.
It remains to be seen when this shift could take place, with the start of potential renewable strikes at the call of the unions. Perhaps from March 8, the first Wednesday after the end of school holidays as proposed by the Solidaires union. Until then, the inter-union calls for demonstrations next Saturday and Thursday. And as a reminder, the duration of examination of the text by the parliament is limited to 50 days, due to the use of article 47.1 of the Constitution by the government. After the Assembly, it will be up to the Senate to examine the text until Sunday March 12. Parliament has until March 26 at the latest to decide on the pension reform.