La Dépêche: French against Macron's pension reform

Caliber.Az reprints an article published by the French newspaper La Dépêche du Midi about another strike in France against President Emanuel Macron's pension reform.

On February 7, at least eight trade unions will participate in the third strike against Macron’s pension reform. Recall that 1.272 million people took to the streets of France on January 31 (according to police figures). The General Confederation of Labour (CGT) claimed 2.8 million strikers on the streets.

The strike will affect several sectors of the economy: railways, ski resorts, oil refineries, the energy sector, schools, the RATP (Autonomous Agency for Parisian Transport) and civil aviation. It could have a decisive impact on the conflict of interests between the government and the opposition.

Electricity production cut

On February 7 and 8, EDF (Électricité de France) strikers cut electricity production by almost 4,500 MW, the equivalent of four nuclear reactors. Workers at several nuclear power plants, such as Paluel (Seine-Maritime) and Dampier (Loiret), as well as thermal power plants in Cordemay (Loire-Atlantique) and Martigues (Bouches-du-Rhône), are on strike, according to FNME-CGT federal secretary Fabrice Koudour.

Discontent at TotalEnergies

According to the CGT, between 75 and 100 per cent of workers at TotalEnergies are on strike this Tuesday for the third day of mobilisation against the pension reform. Management claims only 56 per cent of workers are on strike. TotalEnergies management has stated that "product shipments have been interrupted today". This is similar to the modus operandi used in previous days of strikes against the pension reform project. TotalEnergies management said there was "no shortage of fuel" at the group's petrol stations and assured that "stocks in warehouses and petrol stations are sufficient".

Macron's inflated ego

During an RTL broadcast on February 7, CGT leader Philippe Martinez condemned Emmanuel Macron's "inflated ego". Martinez believes that "when someone is elected by the people, he should listen to the people. Macron wants reform regardless of public opinion. It's dangerous to reason in this way".

Labour Minister Olivier Dussopte defended the draft pension reform and the raising of the retirement age from 62 to 64. He recalled that the reform is needed by the government to ensure the safety of the pension system through distribution. "If we do nothing, there will be an additional deficit of 150 billion euros in ten years," he told RMC TV.

Students from several universities have also joined the strike.
For its part, the Interior Ministry mobilised 11,000 police and gendarmes, including 4,000 in Paris.