CGT considers postponing gas storage works
As the first day of mobilization against the pension reform approaches on January 19, the CGT is readying its weapons. Although its general secretary Philippe Martinez wishes for a “reconstruction” of 1995, the union’s energy federation, the first trade union for electricity and gas, is hoping for a renewed strike and is holding back nothing in its “battle plan”. . Given the scrapping of the special regime for electricity and gas workers, a “tough” conflict should be expected in the energy sector in general, Francis Casanova, manager of very high and high lines of the CGT central union, warned on Thursday.
A few strategies
According to Claude Martin, the federal secretary of the FNME-CGT, different strategies can be applied depending on the sites: strikes “are renewed every evening for the next day”, movements over several days, over several periods, “leaving breaks in nature” in the middle” ( “If January 19 is successful, according to the union member, it is not impossible that it will be difficult from the beginning everywhere”) “targeted cuts” in administrative buildings or traffic radars such as ministries, and support actions for other sectors that are on strike. Strikers in transport, metallurgy, petrochemicals or ports and docks can rely on electricians and gas workers to stop their work tools: “there will be no isolated federations in the corners of each,” pointed out AFP Claude Martin, who intends to federation. “work on convergence of struggles”.
“Energy, electricity and gas are at the heart of the entire economy, so all employers have to express their displeasure, which unfortunately may affect the economy and some companies are also struggling to operate,” the union leader adds.
In addition to reducing electricity production, CGT plans to postpone gas storage works or prevent the unloading of LNG carriers.
“Nothing has been decided, there are ongoing discussions,” said Claude Martin.
On Monday evening, the CGT will meet with all the energy federations to see if they are on the same page as him and can implement a “common action plan”.
United Trade Union Front
Forming a united front for the first time in twelve years, the eight main unions (CFDT, CGT, FO, CFE-CGC, CFTC, Unsa, Solidaires, FSU) are planning a “strong” mobilization against the pension reform presented on Tuesday. Elisabeth Borne. They hope the strike and mobilization day on January 19 will actually work “as the start of a strong mobilization on long-term pensions, a union official admitted to AFP on Thursday on condition of anonymity.” Security sources, however, note a tense social atmosphere and fear a major mobilization following the Prime Minister’s remarks. An inter-union meeting will be held on the 19th to decide on the outcome of the movement, possibly next week as a new mobilization day.
Ahead of the 2019-2020 winter standoff, during a previous attempt at pension reform, the RATP unions pledged to “do everything possible to oppose” the reforms led by Elisabeth Thicke. Other federations are also calling for mobilization. FO-Transport and logistics, which brings together truck drivers as well as ambulance drivers, bus drivers or stock carriers, “wants to go as far as possible in this fight. The federation wants to start an “unrestricted” movement from January 19. mass and strong reaction”. The SNCF union, which includes CGT, Unsa, SUD and CFDT, calls for a “strong strike” on the railway in a press release on January 19. FSU teachers plan to mobilize on the 17th to get the ball rolling.
Gabriel Attal on tour
The government, in turn, is trying to appease the French. Public Accounts Minister Gabriel Attal has decided to tour the country until the text is examined in parliament in February to try to calm public opinion on the criticized reform. On Thursday evening, he was in a multi-purpose room in Juvisy-sur-Orge, south of Paris. This despite the fact that the majority of the French were against the reform.
According to several economists interviewed by AFP, the pension reform presented by the government as a “fairness project” can hardly be considered fair because it requires more effort from the middle class than from managers. The argument was voiced several times by Elisabeth Borne when presenting the pension reform: the project aims to “make the system fairer”. Especially “for women”, not forgetting the “most fragile”, “early starters”.
Eric Heyer, director of the OFCE’s analysis and forecasting department, believes that many of the categories subject to the amendments should have had the effect of delaying the legal age from 62 to 64, “which will remain a sign of austerity”. In particular, it explains, “those who start work between the ages of 19 and 21 and (and) will put in the most effort, while managers and those who start at 23 will contribute very little.”
