Five data to measure the range of motion against reform of the lines
- Despite passing the reform that delays the age of 62 to 64, the opposite mobilizations continue. The means to oppose this text are strike and demonstrations; the slim hope of the Constitutional Council’s revocation; the strategy of maintaining a firm stand before the government; the opportunity of the referendum; and youth mobilizations.
1: Date of the twelfth strike
Despite the French Government passing the reform, the trade unions are still mobilized and today have the twelfth day of strike and demonstration, that of 13 April, and the fourth since the last day of the law. As for the Northern Basque Country, this morning hundreds of people gathered near the Baiona Labour Exchange and in the rain.
The follow-up you are going to have today remains to be seen. The mobilisation of what the government says, which last week were 200,000 fewer people than in the previous week, is becoming weaker, but that is what the unions are debunking, which in the last two mobilizations was joined by the same proportion of people, two million citizens.
The government has a stop that people will get tired, will not be able to strike every week and the mobilisation will gradually be shut down. The new secretary of the CGT trade union, Sophie Binet, replied: "This is an unacceptable strategy based on the fatalism and fatigue of the French. We have a president who governs his people. It's very serious."
Thus, the strike movement is a little more continuous on Thursday, both in public transport and in education. The strike movement in oil refineries also ceased at the last refinery mobilized on 11 April.
2: Constitutional Council resolution on 14 April
The Constitutional Council will determine this Friday, the day after mobilisation, if it is a constitutional reform. On the one hand, the nine members will observe the procedure if Article 47.1 of the Senate and Article 49.3 of Parliament have been properly used, and on the other hand, the constitutionality of the measures introduced by the reform.
Almost nobody believes that the Council annuls the entire text, but some articles may be annulled
The Council does not believe almost anyone to overturn the whole text, but some articles may override it. In different scenarios, there is a revocation of the obligation to declare workers over the age of 50 to go to large companies. Some say that the component of an indefinite new contract for those who finish the career is also threatened. In this respect, the measures rejected by the trade unions and citizens, who have passed the retirement age from 62 to 64 years and the extension of the contribution period, should be passed.
The unions will meet this Thursday to reflect on the response to the Constitutional Council resolution. On Thursday morning some young strikers blocked entry to the headquarters of this institution:
3: Cut conversation
President Emmanuel Macron invites the unions to an interview: "Whatever the resolution," he proposes a meeting interview and "talk about the future." Finally, on 5 April they met Prime Minister Elisabeth Born, but after an hour, denouncing the "failure" of the meeting. Trade union representative Cyril Chabanier said that "we have told the prime minister that the only democratic solution is to delete the text. He replies that he wants to keep his text. It's a serious decision."
Unlike the parliamentary vote, Macron believes under the Constitution Council. Indeed, the Members did not have the support guaranteed, and left the vote to avoid the risk and passed the reform thanks to Rule 49.3. He does not feel that risk in the Constitutional Council. Moreover, the impartiality of this institution may be questioned: six of the nine members are opposed by Macron, and the majority have close relations with political power, including the right-wingers of Prime Minister Laurent Fabius and Alain Juppé, or Minister Jacqueline Gouré between 2018 and 2022.
4: Opportunity for the referendum
The elected representatives of the opposition also have the path of reform on maintaining the retirement age for up to 62 years. Although not under discussion, the nine members should consider whether the proposed "62 year old retirement" law meets all constitutional requirements.
On the same day that the Government passed the reform of the retas, 252 elects presented a bill setting the age of retract at a maximum of 62 years. The Prime Minister left the decision in the hands of the Constitution Council arguing that the proposed law is not constitutional.
If they are in favour, the supporters of the referendum will have nine months to receive the support of 10% of the voters, 4.8 million citizens.
Once the signatures have been validated, Parliament will have a period of six months to examine the draft law. Otherwise, it will be agreed by referendum whether the proposed law is earlier or later.
5: Youth mobilized
With different paths, the young generation continues to mobilize. Thanks to Article 49.3 its involvement has increased a little more since the passage of the law. Currently there are blocked universities such as Roazhon, Lille or Pariscos. The labor unions are sending a message of collaboration and the sum of forces from the students. Here the blockade of the Mirail de Tolosa University:
What is the thought of the small trace of the complaints made on 28 April and that their only succession is the continuous chain of accidents and deaths of workers. In Azkoitia, once again in construction, a 62-year-old worker dies in a very common and therefore avoidable... [+]
When grandparents were young, retirement was represented as a time to enjoy life. Period of collection of the fruits of the work carried out during these years. What a satisfaction! It is a pity that young people today are never able to feel. You might think I'm a pessimist, but... [+]
