Mobilization against pension reform: Macron “thinks we will run out”

Will the mobilization against the pension reform, visible throughout France, continue if the bill is adopted by elected officials?

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Thousands of people are present at each demonstration against the pension reform in Annonay, Ardèche.

ANNONAY, France – “Today, we only talk about garbage cans in Paris, but movements are everywhere”, says Raphaël Foïs in front of a factory in bus whose employees are on strike.

On Wednesday, this trade unionist from the town of Annonay, general secretary of the local union of the CGT trade union, was on his eighth day of mobilization against pension reform.

A sign that the government's plan is not only arousing opposition in Paris, record crowds have participated in the latest demonstrations in his city, as in other smaller municipalities across the country.

Striking employees slowed traffic on an artery in Annonay.

The CGT ensures that 12,000 people marched through the streets of Annonay on March 7. The police headquarters' record is more modest with an estimated crowd of 5,500 people. Regardless of the figures, the mobilization remains important in this city whose population is approximately 16,500 inhabitants.

According to Raphaël Foïs, the symbol is all the stronger since this small town in the Ardèche has already been directed by Olivier Dussopt. The former mayor and socialist deputy is now Emmanuel Macron's Minister of Labor, responsible for steering the pension reform.

“When we ask people to come to Annonay, it's because it's the minister's town. It is important to show that even in his hometown, people are mobilized. »

— Raphaël Foïs, secretary general of the local union of the CGT in Annonay

Raphaël Foïs is general secretary of the CGT in Annonay, a city whose Minister of Labor was once mayor.

Wednesday, the crowd gathered in the streets of Annonay was smaller than the previous week (6,000, according to the unions, 1,800, according to the police) but nevertheless determined to make the government back down on its desire to pass the legal retirement age from 62 to 64.

The president, the prime minister and the ministers stick to this position, ensuring that it is necessary to ensure the sustainability of the French pension system.

For now, the government is very deaf. I hope he doesn't wait until there are overflows to listen to us, says Estelle, who has participated in several demonstrations.

With the approach of a vote in the National Assembly on the bill intended to become this pension reform, reflection is essential. Will the protest movement continue even if the law is passed? If so, what form will it take?

The March 15 demonstration in Annonay brought together 6000 demonstrators according to the unions, 1800 according to the police.

The movement can only harden, because today, we have a government that does not listen to France, believes the trade unionist Raphaël Foïs, who assures that despite the passing weeks, the opponents of the pension reform are still as motivated.

Fabienne, an employee of the health sector who was at the demonstration on Wednesday, was disappointed by the lack of progress against the government. It's a shame, because I think there was something to be done, she says.

She recognizes that it is not easy for everyone to participate regularly in the strike movement, given the loss of income caused by an absence from work. But the protester believes the sacrifice is worth it to try and avoid retirement at 64.

A recent survey by the firm ELABE, conducted for the television channel BFMTV, suggested that two-thirds of French people approve of the opposition movement to pension reform and even that 67% of them want it to continue if the legislation is adopted.

A recent poll claims that 67% of French people approve of the mobilization against the reform pensions.

The country's major unions, all united in their opposition to the reform, have promised to meet after the examination of the bill.

This is when we could have a better idea of ​​the plan they will decide to adopt to deal with the government's strategy, which, according to Estelle, a protester from Annonay, think we're going to run out, run out of steam, that we don' ra not enough capacity.