RATP, SNCF, fuel, teachers… The unions are calling for the country to be “stopped” to obtain the withdrawal of the pension reform project.
By Thibaut Deleaz
Published on
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Ua dark day. On Tuesday, March 7, the unions intend to harden the protest movement against the pension reform to bend the government, so far inflexible on the essentials of its project, despite some concessions. The condensed debates in the Assembly, which did not allow the deputies to comment on the entire text, and during which LFI alienated its allies from Nupes and the unions through its strategy of obstruction – which she assumes – have not calmed the claims.
While the text must be examined in the hemicycle in the Senate from March 2, the new day of mobilization on the 7th must make it possible to raise the pressure a notch. It will not be “the extension of the mess that happened in the Assembly”, promised on Europe 1 the boss of the CFDT, Laurent Berger, who calls for “putting the country to a stop, which is different of a blockage”. For the boss of the CGT, Philippe Martinez, it is clear: on March 7, “the country will be blocked”.
The point on the disturbances to be expected.
• Transportation
The CGT railway workers call on SNCF employees to cause an “emergency stop” on Tuesday March 7, and could embark on a renewable strike. The unions are walking on eggshells, for fear of alienating public opinion, which until now has been rather favorable to the movement. During the mobilization of Saturday, February 11, weekend departure on vacation, the railway workers had not gone on strike.
The inter-union of the RATP is much clearer on the continuation: it calls for a renewable strike from March 7th. The Parisian management is directly affected by the reform, which would abolish the special regime for its future agents. The last two days of mobilization had however generated little disturbance, but the unions hope to re-motivate their troops with this change of strategy.
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The strike could also be followed in the transport networks of other metropolises. Transport Minister Clément Beaune warned on Sud Radio: “On March 7 […], it will be hard! And it could continue the following days if the movement takes, as in 2019 during Emmanuel Macron’s previous attempt to reform pensions.
• Fuel
The CGT chemistry calls for a renewable strike from March 6 in its sector, which includes refineries. The union has wanted for several weeks to stop the installations, which could cause fuel shortages in service stations as in the fall, if the blockage lasted. Until now, employees were not ready to harden the movement, but the deal seems to be reversing.
• Education
While all areas will be back from vacation, it should also stir in National Education. The main teachers’ unions have called for a massive mobilization to “totally close schools, colleges [et] high schools” on Tuesday, March 7.
Students and high school students could also mobilize, their representatives having called on “youth to mobilize, to harden the movement and to bring the country to a halt”, in a joint press release. Youth organizations are thus calling to “raise the pressure on March 7”, continue on the 8th, before a day of mobilization dedicated to youth on the 9th.
• Energy
“We are ready for France at a standstill”, assures the CGT energy. In the sector, whose special status is also threatened by the pension reform, the call for mobilization is also relayed. Since the beginning of the movement, the CGT has already carried out targeted cuts, in particular targeting the offices of elected representatives of the majority, but the mobilization has had no impact despite the drop in electricity production.
• Garbage men
The CGT calls for a strike from March 7 “and until the withdrawal of the bill” in the entire sector. This would concern all employees, from those in charge of waste collection to those of sorting.