The quotation set by the trade unions shows that many people have gathered together, seeing that in Zuberoa there is a predominance of snow rains or rains through Baxenabarrena and Lapurdi. Over 10,000 people have met in Baiona to denounce the reform of the French Government ' s retas. The bill entails a delay of 62 to 64 years in the retirement age, as well as an extension of the period to be paid in order to qualify for the full pension: one more year of contribution, that is, 43 years more. These two measures are to be implemented progressively: from 1 September each year the age is delayed three months to 64 years by 2030; and the contribution from 43 years by 2027. All labour unions have unanimously denounced a "unfair" and "violent" reform. They want to continue fighting until the bill is annulled and they alert the citizens when they conclude the opening of the sub-prefect: "Today is the beginning of a strong mobilization. [France] By the government's stance, survival in time will be the key to victory."

Bayona complains that attempts are being made at the dialogue table with the government to channel the "pseudo-negotiations", because it does not take account of the concerns and demands of workers' representatives: "What we want is a fairer distribution of wealth, but that is not borne by the government".

Young people have asked to join the protest and, as we have seen in Baiona, a large number of young people have joined the movement. Although no official data are available for the Northern Basque Country, the strike movement is experiencing a greater presence in transport, social, health and education. However, private sector staff have also responded to the call. Among other things, workers from companies in the industrial port of Baiona and workers from the interior have been seen in the demonstration of the working capital.

They share the same concerns: on the one hand, they want to live healthy in their portraits and, on the other, they see the shadow of precariousness for reform.

Harming the precarious

Reform will not harm all citizens in the same way: those who have started working young people, those who have precarious employment contracts and have women on the front line. In addition, they have denounced from Baiona that it also implies increased precariousness: "Older workers have difficulty finding work and, in the absence of work, have to spend a precarious time before retiring. Reform is an extension of this precariousness".

The employment rate for the 55-64 years is 56% in the French State, much lower than in the rest of Europe (60.5% in the European Union) and from the age of 60 only one in three workers has an employment contract (mainly because employers prefer to separate themselves from older workers with higher wages to accommodate younger workers with lower wages). Aware of the situation, the Government aims to guide a couple of measures, even if a low impact is anticipated. Let us assume that companies with more than 1,000 older workers and those with more than 300 workers from next year will have to determine the proportion of employees over 50 years of age. They will have to make the figure public and they will not have to be forced to do so.

The reform will be presented next week to the Council of Ministers. In the meantime, this evening the unions will announce the continuation of the mobilization after the assembly they have at 18:00. Two other calls for strike action have been launched in various sectors, one 48 hours on 26 January and another 72 hours on 6 February. As in October last year, they can also repeat the indefinite strike in oil refineries.

Over 200 demonstrations

In the morning there have been dozens of demonstrations, in the afternoon there are many others consolidated. These include Paris, where dozens of citizens have met. At the moment they are getting into trouble and the police have arrested several people: