Rosalind Evans
Trade unions across France are rallying against the government’s new pension reform strategy. With over 200 protests predicted, a large-scale national strike is anticipated that will majorly affect public services. Here are the details.
Who’s Protesting?
Eight of France’s primary trade unions are in unison opposing the recently introduced government retirement reform. They are organizing protests nationwide and the primary grievance is the perceived injustice of the proposal.
Various sectors, including teachers, nurses, railway workers, and police unions, are urging members to participate. The energy sector and refinery workers are also likely to join the strike.
Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux, the head of the employers’ union, anticipates strong participation, especially from the public sector.
The Government’s Proposal:
President Emmanuel Macron’s administration intends to increase the legal age of retirement from 62 to 64 by 2030. This new regulation is set to be implemented from September 2023.
To receive full pension benefits, a worker will have to clock in at least 43 years of work. By 67, those who haven’t worked for 43 years will still receive their full pension.
The proposal includes provisions for those who started work early, the disabled, and injured workers to retire before the stipulated age. Special retirement benefits for certain public sector workers will be phased out for newcomers, but the reform will increase the minimum pension by €100 monthly.
This is the second attempt at pension reform during Macron’s tenure. The previous endeavour in March 2020 was halted amid strong opposition and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Passing this law might require collaboration with right-wing Les Républicains MPs, or the government might use a constitutional provision to pass it without a vote.
Why the Opposition?
Unions and left-leaning parties opine that the reform is unnecessary for financing the pension system. They recommend increased contributions from employers and employees and targeting tax evasion. The reform is seen as disadvantaging the vulnerable, furthering inequality.
Recent polls indicate that 68% of the French population oppose the new plan. Historical attempts at pension reforms have been met with resistance, especially when it concerns the retirement age.
Professor Douglas Webber of INSEAD highlights that such protests, while disruptive, are typically short-lived. The last time the government completely reversed a reform was in 1995. However, the retirement age did increase to 62 in 2010 post the financial crisis, leading to more individuals over 60 seeking jobs.
Expected Disruptions:
Travel disruptions are anticipated, with major cancellations in trains and limitations in public transportation, particularly in cities like Paris, Lyon, and Marseille.
Clément Beaune, the Transport Minister, advised against travelling and anticipates significant interruptions. In preparation for the protests, over 10,000 police officers will be deployed nationwide.
According to Webber, conflicts between the government, employers, and unions in France have historically been tense compared to other European nations. Pension reforms, universally unpopular, usually see enactment in France after intense power tussles involving strikes and demonstrations.
The waves of protest against the pension reform are a testament to France’s longstanding culture of voicing public concerns and defending workers’ rights. As the nation stands divided, the outcome of this confrontation will significantly shape the future of France’s welfare system and possibly set a precedent for similar debates in other nations. With the potential for widespread disruption and a government determined to push its agenda, the world watches closely to see how the French spirit of resistance and negotiation resolve this impasse.
