Tuesday, March 7th has been designated as a ‘shut down’ of France as hundreds of thousands of workers fight back against a plan to raise their pension age.
The mainstream media in Ireland have not been reporting these events. But it is an example worth spreading.
The minimum French retirement age is 62 but the French President, Macron, wants to raise it to 64 and demand that a worker must have 43 years’ service to get a full pension.
Rail workers, teachers and other public sector workers are walking out. Many will continue their action with a series of rolling strikes.
Macron’s measure is deeply unpopular, and he may have difficulty passing a law through the National Assembly. However, he could overrule it with a Presidential decree.
Some union leaders such as those in the CFDT are nervous about spreading the action but the radical left is pushing for a general strike.
With 75% of the French population behind them, now is an opportune time to defeat Macron.
In Ireland, the unions rolled over and accepted an increase in the retirement age. They recently accepted pay rises that were way below the rate of inflation.
Social partnership is weakening Irish unions – militant action is strengthening French unions.
We need a change of direction.
