French workers protest against cost of living and reforms

Unions across France called for a massive protest on Tuesday to express their anger over stagnant wages, the cost of living and a change in the unemployment benefit system. They say the weight of the Covid crisis must not be carried by workers.

Eight unions (CGT, FO, Solidaires, FSU, Fidl, MNL, UNEF and the youth branch of the UNL) joined forces in solidarity for the workers who have lost much of their purchasing power due to inflation and an economic crisis, made worse by the Covid epidemic.

After 18 months of sanitary measures and restrictions that stifled much of last year’s protests, unions expect a high turnout this time around, with at least 200 rallies organized across the country, with marches in from 2 p.m. in Paris.

In some sectors of public services such as schools and transport, calls for work stoppages have also been launched.

“Unfair” reform
The unions criticize the latest rise in energy prices which has put many households in difficulty, the controversial new reform of unemployment benefits and the future issue of pensions.

“We urgently need answers now (…) when people take to the streets, it has weight,” the general secretary of the CGT union Philippe Martinez told LCI television on Monday.

“It’s not about waiting for the next president to answer us. When I visit workers in companies, they talk about wages, not immigration,” he said.

Martinez also warned that his union and others would oppose the new changes that have just come into effect, making unemployment benefits more difficult to obtain.

“This reform is unfair. The government gives the impression that one chooses to be unemployed,” he said, adding that “the battle is not over, whether in the streets or in court” .

Disconnected leaders
In terms of purchasing power, Martinez also criticizes the gap between the point of view of the government and that of its citizens.

“There have been serious studies, carried out by charities such as Abbé Pierre and the Secours populaire which show that poverty is increasing. There is a complete gap between what people think, in particular retirees, and what what the ministers and the president think, “he said.

Force Ouvrière union leader Yves Veyrier agrees that despite some recent advances, such as a 6-9% wage increase in the hotel and restaurant sector, more pressure needs to be exerted on both the government and the private sector to increase low wages. generally.

“It is not fair that we make employees pay for the crisis,” he told France Info on Tuesday.

The minimum wage (Smic) increased by 35 euros per month on October 1, but this is an automatic increase due to inflation. This is not enough to offset the rising cost of living.

Workers intending to join the rallies include ‘second line’ workers, exposed during the Covid crisis, such as cashiers, who feel left out, and many have yet to receive their so-called ‘Covid bonus “, for putting their health at risk by keeping the minimum services open.

The state says it has disbursed financial aid to help those facing rising energy costs, as well as making tips to servers tax-free. Teachers also saw their salaries increase in January. But for many, it’s just not enough to make ends meet.

“The education summit helped increase the salaries of young teachers, but for late-career teachers like me, there has been no increase since 2010. I lost 20% of my purchasing power. explains Murielle, director of a school in the department of Seine-et-Marne, in the Paris region, who says that she will participate in the marches organized on Tuesday.