The first mobilization of the year was little followed, in Uzès, mardi 1is October 2024, more “a good person is worth ten”, we listen among those present. Because those who made the trip, including employees of the Haribo factory, the Uzès hospital center and the Mas-Careiron hospital, representatives of Attac, are more determined than ever to make their demands heard in this day when the Prime Minister Michel Barnier must make its general policy declaration.
Government guidelines, public services, salaries, among the demands
“We want to redraw the attention of public opinion to the results of the legislative elections because the choices of the French are not found in the Government”, launches straight away Philippe Albi, secretary of the CGT Pays d’Uzès. Among the demands, the repeal of the pension reform ; the safeguarding of services publics “while we are already hearing about a 44% cut for the Ministry of Health, the system is already exhausted but the State prefers to invest in the army” ; the increase in wages to achieve a minimum wage of €2,000 in particular “which is the minimum to live on. And it’s possible if we use the money that the State gives to private companies like Sanofi which make disproportionate profits. We would prefer subsidies for small businesses where employees need support “, proclaims Philippe Albi.
A day for “remind the deputies that it was we who elected them”, he continues.
Good-natured atmosphere for the mobilization of 1is October in Uzès
In front of the town hall of Uzès, the reduced number of participants does not affect the mood. Between the “Hello comrade”, reggae music and souvenir photos, we talk politics of course, but also personal life. Everyone benefits from meeting again after several months of break. We prepare the signs, we discuss, even if the group does not ultimately go on a city tour, the gathering is going well.
In Uzès, a dynamic core of demonstrators
Even if the mobilization did not attract the expected crowd this 1is October in Uzès, the local secretary of the CGT defends the legitimacy, even the necessity, to continue to organize gatherings, even though other towns like Bagnols-sur-Cèze were not planning any. “In Uzès, there is a dynamic collective, he assures. We need to get together to express our opinions here, even if we will also go to Nîmes for the departmental event this afternoon.
“Uzès is not just the Place aux Herbes and the duchy. On March 7, 2023, we brought together 1,200 people in the streets. There’s a huge core here.”recalls Philippe Albi.
If the trade unionist was necessarily disappointed with the Gard results in the legislative elections of June 2024, and in particular the constituency of Uzès, the last territory which was not yet under the colors of the National gathering, he was “relieved that this is not the case at the national level”.
“We must not give up and demand that deputies vote for the laws we need, launches Philippe Albi into the microphone in front of the group gathered on the steps of the Uzès town hall. We will try to be stronger next time. And there will be next times!”
