" We are more determined than ever ": lawyers' representatives called on Monday to continue the strike against the pension reform, which started almost two months ago and greatly disrupts the functioning of the justice system. In this message sent to lawyers, of which AFP obtained a copy, the representatives of " black dresses " accuse Prime Minister Edouard Philippe of " truncating " the parliamentary debate, by using 49-3 to have the pension reform adopted .
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" The legal profession had, however, prepared this debate at length (...) by having nearly 700 amendments tabled to denounce and oppose the unjust disappearance of our independent pension plan ," deplore the authors of the text, including the president of the National Bar Council (CNB) Christiane Féral-Schuhl and the president of the Bâtonnier Conference Hélène Fontaine. The reform " does not offer any financial or legal guarantee to date ", criticize the representatives of the 70,000 lawyers in France. Lawyers, who contribute to an independent fund, are standing up against a project that will see pension contributions double (from 14 to 28%) for those who earn less than 40,000 euros per year, but also lower their pensions, according to the CNB.
The CNB explains that it has " already worked very early on to raise awareness among senators " and " prepared the legal elements for appeal to the Constitutional Council ". “ Our movement can only continue. We are more determined than ever , ”write lawyers' representatives. The CNB will organize a general assembly on March 14, during which will be defined " the conditions under which (the) movement must continue by registering in the duration, while preserving the economic balance of our cabinets ".
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Friday, after a meeting with representatives of lawyers, the Minister of Justice Nicole Belloubet announced to entrust the former Keeper of the Seals Dominique Perben a mission on the economic future of the legal profession. She also promised " a significant reassessment " of legal aid, and therefore an increase in the remuneration of lawyers defending the most disadvantaged. " The profession does not wait for the creation of yet another commission but strong and immediate answers to questions that have been on the table for years ", answer the representatives of the " black dresses ". “ The lawyers have long made their proposals. The Chancellery therefore has all the means to respond to it, ”they add.
