Pensions, salaries: the first demonstrations took place this Tuesday in several cities at the call of the CGT, the FSU and Solidaires, a few hours before the highly anticipated general policy speech by the Prime Minister. In the procession in Rouen, Michel Masdebrieu, secretary of the CGT union of Seine-Maritime retirees, says he is demonstrating “to oppose the very reactionary policy of the new government”.
This morning, some Parisian high schools were blocked including Hélène-Boucher, Racine and Fénelon where the high school students called for a rally in front of their establishment. Despite the mobilization of youth, “the feedback from the field is not good”, confided a union source on condition of anonymity. Another source predicts “a moderately successful strike” in “the absence of inter-union unity”.
Unlike the united battle against pension reform, the CFDT, FO, CFE-CGC, CFTC and Unsa refused to join the mobilization. “Protesting on the day when the Prime Minister makes his general policy speech is still a little complicated,” CFTC leader Cyril Chabanier recently estimated.
