Nearly twenty retirees mobilized against the Barnier government in Cahors, more than 40 in Figeac

The anger has not subsided. At the call of the inter-union, nearly twenty union representatives and retirees gathered at Place Chapou in Cahors, this Tuesday, December 3. A weak mobilization, in the autumn cold which does not discourage the participants. Starting with Philippe Miquel, secretary of the Confederal Union of Pensioners-CGT du Lot. For him, the cup is full. “Our biggest demand is purchasing power and of course pensions. We are asking for the revaluation of basic pensions on January 1. The rate of 0.8% is insufficient in view of inflation,” begins he. “Since 2017 and since Emmanuel Macron came to power, we have lost the equivalent of three months of pension, we want to make up for this loss. Retirees are also paying the price,” continues Yves Mespoulhé, departmental secretary of FGR-FP, civil service retirees.

He is particularly concerned about medical deserts. “Yes, I am lucky to have a GP but the consultation time is sometimes a month and a half. On the other hand, I cannot find a dentist,” he laments. The retiree also points out the increase in his complementary health insurance and the reimbursement of medical costs which is decreasing. Suffice it to say, two curves which, according to him, are not going in the right direction. Nadine Souleillou, member of the FSU, is concerned about the application of the pension reform. “Successive pension reforms have always reduced pensions,” she notes. Thursday, at 2 p.m., Place Chapou, it is now public officials who are invited to demonstrate.

In Figeac, nearly forty retirees participated this Tuesday in the rally organized in front of the sub-prefecture at 10 a.m. An inter-union petition was made available to request an increase in pensions and a minimum indexation to inflation on January 1, 2025. The representatives of the various union organizations mobilized – CGT, FSU, FO, FGR FP, Solidaires, CFE-CGC – were received by the sub-prefect of Figeac, Anne-Cécile Vialle before her departure scheduled for Friday. “She will pass on our grievances,” said Alain Millard, a retired postal worker for the CGT, at the end of this meeting. Very angry, the trade unionist denounced the situation of retirees today. “We, the retirees, would be the privileged ones. We would have a higher standard of living than the working people, it is well known! While two million retirees are below €800 per month. Many have difficulty feeding themselves, keep warm and take care of yourself. In the ranks of demonstrators from the private and public sectors, there were many concerns, particularly on issues related to health with the questioning of the reimbursement of medicines, the increase in the price of mutual insurance but also the new rules for medical transport. “New threats” which scare retirees, determined to make themselves heard and, despite the context, not to censor their demands.