According to the counts, between 10,500 and 14,000 people took part in the Dijon demonstration, this Tuesday, January 31. Find all the characteristics of the procession in more than 120 photographs.

The mobilization does not weaken. This Tuesday, January 31, 2023, for the second round of mobilization against the pension reform, the unions and youth organizations called to manifest themselves in Côte-d’Or.

Main issue of the day: participation. In Dijon, the police counted 10,500 demonstrators when the CGT counted 14,000 (against 11,000 and 13,000 respectively, on January 19). The CGT also named 2,000 demonstrators in Montbard (against 1,500 on January 19) and 500 in Beaune (where there was no rally on January 19).

At the national level, the Ministry of the Interior indicated 1.272 million demonstrators while the CGT advanced the number of 2.8 million people in the streets over the whole of the day.

“Our pension plan is not in danger”

While the Place de la Liberation was crowded, Franck Laureau, departmental secretary of Force Ouvrière in Côte-d’Or, took the floor to castigate the “counter-reform of pensions” proposed by the government.

“According to the latest report of the [Conseil d’orientation des retraites]there is no uncontrolled dynamic of pensions”, he insisted, “our pension system is therefore not in danger”.

FO proposes in particular to “strengthen the retention of seniors in employment, (…) take into account the issue of arduous work before the end of their career and allow early retirement, encourage collective bargaining both for the ’employment of seniors but also for issues of inequality at work, fight against gender pay inequalities at work’.

“We are currently in a context of social crisis and inflation. These additional attacks on national solidarity will bring difficulties and the feeling of injustice of the population”, launched Franck Laureau. “FO will maintain, in responsibility, the mobilization until the total withdrawal of this unfounded and unjust counter-reform. No to 64 and yes to retirement at 60 with 37 and a half years of contribution.

Firefighters enliven the event

Carried by representatives of the CFDT, CFE-CGC, CFTC, CGT, FO, FSU, Solidaires and UNSA unions as well as the student organizations AUBE, FEBIA and UNEF, the leading banner set off shortly after 2:30 p.m. in the direction of place Darcy by taking rue de la Liberté which was filled along its length, as on January 19th.

If the stroll was particularly calm at the head of the procession, the SPP-PATS union of firefighters set the mood on rue de la Liberté with a vehicle with all screaming sirens presented on rue du Chapeau-Rouge. More musical, the sound systems of the UNSA, Solidaires or the CFDT were not left out.

Strong presence of PS and NUPES

Many political figures participated beyond the traditional support at the starting point. Among the socialists, one could recognize José Almeida, mayor of Longvic, and Céline Tonot, first deputy of this same commune, Christophe Berthier, deputy mayor of Dijon, as well as Thierry Falconnet, mayor of Chenôve, Colette Popard, former departmental councilor of the Côte-d’Or, Pierre-Alexandre Privolt, also a former departmental elected official, and even Philippe Berthaut, former director general of the services of the City of Dijon.

The NUPES 21 group was particularly large with in particular Antoine Peillon (LFI), former legislative candidate in Côte-d’Or, Christine Renaudin-Jacques (Gs), opposition municipal councilor in Talant, Caroline Carlier (Gs), departmental councilor of the Côte-d’Or, Patricia Marc (LFI), former candidate in the legislative elections in Côte-d’Or, Catherine Hervieu (EELV), elected departmental and municipal representative in Dijon, Stéphanie Modde (EELV), vice-president of the regional council of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. In addition, Stéphane Guinot (LFI), mayor of Boussenois, was also present.

New days of action on February 7 and 11

Shortly after 5 p.m., the head of the procession reached Place Wilson where the dispersal took place calmly while the parade was still jammed on Boulevard Thiers, copiously filled with demonstrators.

Always united, the inter-union now deals with the particular period of school holidays which are linked, in three zones, from February 4 to March 5. Nevertheless, opponents of the pension reform have already set two new meetings on February 7 and 11, a Tuesday and a Saturday.

Jean-Christophe Tardivon