DIJON: Solidaires launches “first round of the year” against pension reform
On the initiative of the Solidaires trade union, this Saturday, January 7, nearly 200 people have parameters in the calm in the city center to oppose the government reform of the pension system. The mobilization was marked by the participation of some Yellow Vests.
Warm-up lap or difficulty with mobilization? The turnout was modest, this Saturday, January 7, 2022, with nearly 200 people having responded to the call from the Solidaires trade union to demand “a general increase in income (salaries, retirement pensions and social minima)” and to “take action against the counter-reforms of unemployment insurance and pensions”.
However, several slogans had therefore been launched. However, several groups have come together to bring other demands that have anti-capitalism in common.
However, around twenty Yellow Vests joined the mobilization, taking advantage of both the demonstration declared by Solidaires 21 and a current call on social media to add the challenge to the use of “49-3” by the government.
Disappointed protesters
Several demonstrators did not hide their disappointment in front of the participation of this day although it resulted from only one organization.
The last large-scale mobilization dates back to October 18 with 1,200 people in the streets of Dijon to demand a “wage increase” (read our article).
The real thermometer of the mobilization in opposition to the government reform of the pension system will therefore be the inter-union demonstration on January 17th.
“By increasing wages, we can finance this pay-as-you-go system”, analyzes Solidaires 21
During the speeches at Place Darcy, Samuel Garnier, departmental co-secretary of Solidaires 21, congratulated the participants in the “first round of the year” in the face of pension reform, inflation and the increase in tenant charges. of social housing.
“Our daily life is pasta which increases by 15-20%, when we have to move, it is the essence which is close to two euros, (…) we have reason to be angry”, he said. struck.
“By increasing wages and increasing social and employer contributions, we can finance this pay-as-you-go system,” he defended against the government’s “circle”. “We want to remain united with each other, we want the workers to finance this pension system.”
ATTAC 21 castigates the “counter-reform” of pensions
The co-presidents of ATTAC 21, Michel Manuelian and Agnès Salomon, reviewed the history of the French pay-as-you-go pension system. “But for years, successive governments have endeavored to unravel this retirement system by using pensions and extending the contribution period,” he regretted.
“Poverty is back among aging people, especially women whose pensions are 40% lower, on average, than men,” they said. And to recall that “thirteen years separate the life expectancy of less wealthy men from that of the wealthiest, eight and a half years for women”.
ATTAC 21 representatives criticized successive governments for “dramatizing” to push the French towards “private alternatives” through a “counter-reform”.
Michel Manuelian and Agnès Salomon preferred to demand “the fair measure of equal pay between men and women”, “better access to work for women and those aged 55-60”, “the restoration of the ISF “, “the abolition of the flat tax”, “a fairer taxation on all income” and “a tax on superprofits”.
For the SNUIPP-FSU 21, the pension deficit is equivalent to “an overdraft of 60 balls at the end of the month”
Departmental co-secretary of SNUIPP-FSU in Côte-d’Or, Christine Bernery castigated “a strictly political decision” by comparing the deficit of the pension system to “an overdraft of 60 bucks at the end of the month” for a household.
“It is out of the question that we do one more year,” she insisted, drawing attention to the notion of “life expectancy in good health”.
A call for a “feminist strike” on March 8
Two neo-feminist activists have announced the preparation of a “feminist strike” on March 8 to denounce “poverty, patriarchal domination, sexist, racist, LGBTQI-phobic, validist violence, exclusion and discrimination”.
“The feminist strike makes it possible to make the link between capitalist economic violence and patriarchal violence against women and gender minorities”, they explained, calling for a strike “of women at work”, of “students , trainees and apprentices” as well as “a consumer strike”, “a reproductive work strike” and “an emotional work strike”.
Two activists from the Quartier libre des Lentillères and the self-managed space of the Tanneries then encouraged “defending the living conditions of employees and precarious people in the same movement” before calling for “a revolutionary year 2023”.
“Students, too, work, they also contribute”, reports AUBE
“We see everyone struggling, the students can’t take it anymore”, finally declared Emmanuel Brondel, president of the AUBE student union.
“We are here to yell with you to increase wages because the students, they also work, they also contribute,” he said. And to warn about the “disgusting” reform to come concerning housing aid and scholarships.
Clash with dissident Brethren
From Place Darcy, the procession then set off in the direction of Place de la République, taking Boulevard de la Trémouille.
Few political figures had mobilized but, among the demonstrators, one could however recognize Victorien di Fraja and Dominique Guidoni-Stoltz, members of La France insoumise.
An internal incident broke out shortly before the Place de la République. Participants almost came to blows when a flag of the dissident Brothers was seen in the procession.
Associated with the extreme right, the emblem of the small group was seized and burned. Later, the few people involved – some of them wearing yellow vests – were jeered at and left the demonstration as “everyone hates fascists” was chanted.
Place du Théâtre, final stage, the demonstrators dispersed calmly.
Jean-Christophe Tardivon