JANUARY STRIKE. While a massive mobilization is looming for Thursday, January 19 against the pension reform, other strikes circumscribed by area are already planned for the coming weeks. The dates to remember, sector by sector.
[Mis à jour le 16 janvier 2023 à 16h19] Should we fear a dark day on Thursday, January 19? And should we fear new national strikes for the end of January? If we have to wait to see the number of people in the streets this week to get a more precise idea of the extent of the social movement against the pension reform, it is better to prepare for the various mobilizations that are looming.
Nobody missed the call of the inter-union for a strike and a massive mobilization on Thursday January 19. Union representatives are calling for millions of people to take to the streets and several sectors have confirmed that they are taking part in the mobilization. But some, if they join the movement of the inter-union, do not intend to be satisfied with this only demonstration and have already fixed other appointments for the end of January, and even beyond.
In some education unions or in the oil sector the decision has been taken, but other social movements can still prepare and be added to the calendar according to the strength of the mobilization expected this Thursday, January 19. In the event of a crowd in the streets, the unions anticipate a strike over several days with punch operations against the pension reform desired by the executive. Which says it respects the right to strike, but calls on the strikers to “not penalize the French”. Remarks made by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and deemed “scandalous” by the boss of the CGT Philippe Martinez: “It is she who should have thought before launching this reform, it is she who sets the fire, it is not is not us. All the unions, and it is rare, have warned her. That she assumes responsibility for the mobilization”.
An inter-union strike on January 19
This is a first for 12 years and “a feat” of the government according to the secretary general of the CGT Philippe Martinez: the eight French trade union federations (CFDT, CGT, FO, CFE-CGC, CFTC, Unsa, Solidaires, FSU) s unite in a common front against pension reform. All together, the union representatives called for a strike and a “massive mobilization” hoping to see millions of people in the streets with an example in mind, that of the mobilization of 1995 against the Juppé plan on pensions which had pushed two million of demonstrators pounding the pavement.
This strike call launched by the inter-union could only be a starting point for a mobilization over several days, even several weeks. The union of trade unions must also meet Thursday evening after the day of strike to decide on the continuation of the operations according to the extent of the demonstrations. “It’s the first meeting, that means there will be others”, launched Philippe Martinez on January 13 on BFM TV when the confederal secretary of the CGT, Céline Verzeletti anticipated in remarks taken up by The gallery : “We can have a second day very close together so as not to break the momentum”.
All the left called to join the inter-union movement and to participate in the day of mobilization. The unions did not object to the presence of left-wing elected officials in the ranks when they assured that they would not tolerate the presence of any member of the majority or of the right in the processions. Laurent Berger, boss of the CFDT, however insisted on January 16 to say on France info that the demonstrations of January 19 are not political, they must belong to the workers and all the elected officials “will be behind”.
A strike in schools on January 17
The teachers’ unions were among the first to respond positively to the call for a strike on 19 January. In processions all over France, the unions Snuipp-FSU, Snes-FSU, Unsa-education or even Sgen-CFDT will protest against the pension reform, in particular against the decline in the legal age at 64 years old and long studies not taken into account. But before that, the Snes-FSU are calling for a demonstration specific to the National Education sector on tuesday january 17. This time, the demands relate essentially to a salary increase and the improvement of working conditions, but it is not impossible that slogans against the pension reform will be chanted.
The Snes-FSU, the main secondary school union, is at the initiative of the extended call for a strike in the education sector, but before it some teachers had already planned to demonstrate on January 17: those of vocational high schools. The latter denounce another reform of Emmanuel Macron that concerning the reorganization of the professional path. It is therefore a convergence of struggles that is being organized under the impetus of the teachers’ unions.
Three progressive strikes in refineries at the call of the CGT-Pétrole
The “illegitimate and unacceptable” pension reform must not come into force for oil sector unions. CGT-Petrole has invited employees to multiply and intensify strikes in the coming weeks, anticipating “decreases in flow” and “stopping of shipments” of fuels, according to Eric Sellini, the union’s national coordinator at TotalEnergies.
The union plans a 24-hour strike on January 19another one 48 hours on January 26and finally a three-day strike starting February 6. A three-step plan that leaves the way open for a renewal of the social movement and even “if necessary, to stop the refining facilities”. In response, and before reliving the fall crisis, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne urged the strikers to “not penalize the French” during a trip on January 12.
An “unlimited” strike at the hospital since January
Hospital staff will take part in the mobilization on Thursday, January 19, 2023. If they will not all take to the streets, many will wear the “on strike” armband from their post, a habit among caregivers to avoid doing damage to patients. collateral, but that in no way lessens the workers’ anger.
However, hospitals are already engaged in an “unlimited” strike since January 10 thanks to a strike notice filed by FO-Santé and which runs indefinitely. With uninterrupted mobilization, medical professionals can organize a new social movement at any time.
In addition to denouncing the pension reform, caregivers are demanding an increase in wages – some are campaigning for a minimum wage of 2,000 euros -, retirement at 60 and possibly early at 55, but also the recruitment of “200,000 agents in health, social and medico-social sectors”. In addition to hospitals, some liberal doctors, who were on strike at the beginning of the month, could individually take part in the January 19 strike day. Liberal doctors who demand an increase in consultation rates from 25 to 50 euros, a reduction in their administrative tasks or even incentives to reduce the number of medical deserts.
Future strikes in transport?
The transport sector has been multiplying strikes since the fall of 2022 and in recent weeks the SNCF and the RATP have given the cover. The latest mobilization dates back only to January 13, the day of the mandatory annual negotiations at the RATP. The two companies promise a large-scale mobilization on Thursday January 19 with a “zero transport” objective displayed by the CGT-RATP which will use an “unlimited duration” strike notice which was filed in December 2019 during the previous reform. “aborted” pensions, as indicated TF1 News. Enough to allow a renewal of the movement without difficulty.
The SNCF also plans a “powerful” strike. “In the railways, the trade unions (…) affirm their desire to build an offensive (…) the strongest in order to make the government give in”, can we read in a press release on January 11. The unions which are also studying “methods of action going beyond twenty-four hours after the day of January 19”.
Truck drivers also intend to mobilize against the pension reform. Fabrice Michaud, representative of the “Transport” branch of the CGT, told TF1 News Friday January 13 that the objective is that of a “general mobilization”. “Strike notices have been filed by truck drivers, cash couriers, but also by delivery companies,” he said, even if for the moment, a “blockage” is not considered. However, “if the government sticks to its positions”, a mobilization similar to that planned in the refineries could be put in place.