In France, May 1, 2023 was marked by the movement against pension reform. This year, the CGT has recorded more than 250 processions throughout France. No single slogan, but the unions still want to present a united front.
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A total of 18,000 people demonstrated this Wednesday, May 1 in Paris in France, indicated the police headquarters. The unions count 50,000 demonstrators in the capital.
This year, unlike 2023, there is no longer a single slogan behind which we find all the unions, as was the case during the pension battle, explains RFI’s special correspondent at Place de la République in Paris , Nathanaël Vittrant. On the side of the CGT, we call for social justice and peace, for international solidarity, with the situation at hand in mind. Gaza.
Sophie Binet, the number one of the CGT, Sophie Binet is particularly concerned about the “social dysfunctions” to be expected at the time of the Olympic Games.
A few weeks before the Olympic Games, I want to tell you that we are fed up. For more than two months, the CGT has been calling on the public authorities about all the social dysfunctions in the preparation of the Games. […] We still have not received a response from the public authorities. They are not even able to find a date to organize this round table with all the speakers around the table. And so from there, I want to ask you, how do you want this to go well? Employees are told not to give in and to mobilize to win agreements in their company…
Sophie Binet, general secretary of the General Confederation of Labor
As for the CFDT, the first union in France, we are thinking more of the European elections. Marylise Léon will also be in Strasbourg to participate in a debate on Europe, asking for a Europe that is more protective of workers. Frédéric Souillot, from Force Ouvrière, will be in Montauban, which does not mean that there is not a common fight for purchasing power, particularly in this period of inflation.
The inter-union has also spoken out in recent months, even recently, against the immigration law, against the unemployment insurance reform – this is the next big social issue this spring. Moreover, even without a national slogan, even in the absence of some of the headliners in Paris, most of the unions decided to demonstrate once again, side by side, also united by a government which has never really sought to play the social dialogue card.
Peace in Gaza
If social issues are the priority, in the parade, there was a lot of talk about the situation in Gaza and support for the Palestinian cause. “ I am here for the workers, it is important to mobilize for our rights. But also to denounce the terrible situation underway in Gaza and Palestine. This has to stop », Declares Louise in the Parisian procession.
Many Palestinian flags fly alongside union banners. Éléonore Schmitt, spokesperson for the Student Union, Palestinian keffiyeh around her neck, is at the head of the procession alongside other union leaders. She carefully follows this movement which is expressed in particular at Columbia in the United States and at Science Po. “ We look at what is happening in the United States, we also look at what is happening around the world. There are different mobilizations, even currently, for example, still in Japan, in South Korea, where there are also students who are mobilizing. And precisely, for us, it is important to make all these mobilizations visible to show that this is not a case specific to Sciences Po. It is not a case specific to Columbia either, but that it is indeed a mobilization which is today global. We support it, more than that, we encourage it and we call for mobilization. For us, it is important that today students carry this internationalist voice that has always been theirs. We can talk about different conflicts in the past in which students were strongly mobilized. And what we see, above all, is that we face immense repression. Just yesterday, in Toulouse, batons to subdue the mobilized students; last week, at Sciences Po, riot police dislodged students… They think they will silence us by beating us or repressing us and, in the end, that gives us all the more strength to continue the fight. »
Tensions took place at the head of the procession with windows and a bus shelter vandalized, noted an AFP journalist. At least one person was injured during this episode. She was evacuated from the procession by two other demonstrators. Calm then returned and the demonstration continued to progress towards the Place de la Nation, before being stopped again at the Place de la Bastille.
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Processions all over France
Among the first processions to set off, that of Marseille brought together around 3,000 people, Rennes where the demonstration attracted 1,400 people, according to the prefecture, while in Nantes, there were between 4,000 and 5,000, noted an AFP journalist. Damage to Nantes businesses and tear gas shooting were reported. In Toulouse, there were 3,000, according to the prefecture, 8,000, according to the organizers. The parade, in the rain, was held amid union flags, as well as Palestinian flags. “Stop the war, increase wages” or “against precariousness”, we could read on signs.
Deterioration was noted in Lyon. At least 17 people were arrested. There were 6,500 according to the prefecture, 13,000 according to the CGT. The number one of the PCF, Fabien Roussel marched in Lille, saying he wanted “ put the social question at the heart of the European elections “. In Saint-Etienne, the head of the PS and Place publique list Raphaël Glucksmann was prevented from joining the procession after paint was thrown and insults from a few dozen activists.
I do not agree with the expulsion which was organized by the group which claims it, the Communist Youth, of Mr. Glucksmann in Saint Étienne. But I note that he should have thought before speaking and accusing La France insoumise…
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, head of La France insoumise