Strike of January 31 in Caen: thousands of people in the street against the pension reform
Through Margaux Rousset
Published on
updated on 31 Jan 23 at 12:20
The second major national mobilization against the pension reform takes place this Tuesday, January 31, 2023 everywhere in France. A Caen (Calvados)the unions gave an appointment to the demonstrators at 10:30 a.m. in Saint-Pierre square.
13 days after the first mobilization, how many will there be? In Caen, Thursday January 19more than 17,000 people came together to say “no” to the pension reform.
The loop route
The course of this second mobilization will start from Saint-Pierre square. The protesters
will pass by boulevard Leclerc to reach the forecourt of the town hall before going up to the university. The procession will end, rue Montoir-Poissonnerie, next to the castle of Caen, thus making a loop.
The least mobilized teachers
The Normandy Academy informs of the percentage of strikers among teachers in the region. “Participation in colleges is estimated at 27.25% (against 40.29% on January 19), in general and technological high schools at 20.32% (against 28.37%) and in vocational high schools at 17.39% (from 21.48%).
In front of the castle and the statue of Guillaume and Mathilde, the unions end the demonstration.
It is almost noon and the head of the procession arrives at the Château de Caen, the end point of the demonstration.
Pauline, a young teacher with her colleagues: “teaching until the age of 64, we are worn out, tired, faced with young students, it is inefficient. »
28,000 people according to the unions
As on January 19, the unions evoke 28,000 demonstrators in the street in Caen. The procession unfolds over several kilometres.
The demonstrators pass in front of the Misericordia clinic where the staff caregiver and the nurses in the operating room have been on strike for several days.
It is 11:30 a.m. and the start of the procession goes up the Fossés Saint-Julien. The end, it barely starts in Place Saint-Pierre.
Testimonials from women
In the procession, Aurore, 33 years old and caregiver: “It’s important to be here today. The medical community is affected by this reform, these are difficult jobs. Many can’t hold on, and they already don’t, they change jobs. We lack manpower and the salary does not follow. On request more recognition. »
Place Saint-Pierre, Edwige, is in the ranks. “I am already retired so I am here out of pure solidarity. I left the profession at the age of 58 in 2017. The health sector is becoming precarious, we have to move quickly, we lack the means. I am also there for my children and grandchildren. »
Higher in the procession, Hélène came with her retired mother.
We are tired of suffering while others get rich. Everything increases except wages, it’s fed up, life loses its meaning.
The pension reform also affects women. Many are mobilized this Tuesday 31 in Caen. For her, but also in solidarity with the younger generations. This is the case of Anne, a 60-year-old statistician:
It is important for me to be here to defend my rights. I am soon to retire but I have to do six more months when I was supposed to leave in 2024. I am also here because I am thinking of the young people, who will have to work longer.
Around 11:15 a.m., while the start of the procession arrived at the town hall square, the end of the procession was still rue Saint-Pierre.
While the streets are deserted, the procession of several hundred meters heads towards the town hall at the end of the morning.
At 11 a.m., the demonstration paused in front of the Prefecture of Calvados where gendarmes guarded the entrance. Whistles are heard. On the sound system, a manifesto exclaims:
Retired at 60, we fought to win it, we will fight to find it.
Demonstration against the reform of the #retreat a #Caen the procession sets off pic.twitter.com/j0zUsXGYBa
— Freedom (@LIBERTE_CAEN) January 31, 2023
The procession starts at 10:40 a.m., the inter-union at the head of the procession. Already thousands of people are present and the demonstrators continue to arrive.
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