Pensions: lawyers do not disarm and vote to continue their movement

The National Bar Council (CNB) voted Friday evening in a general assembly and unanimously to continue the mobilization of lawyers against the pension reform, despite the government's proposals.

The CNB, which represents the 70,000 French lawyers, "reaffirms its firmest opposition to this reform" and intends "to continue the movement of strong mobilization according to the methods (all forms of strikes, demonstrations, days of action ...) stopped by bars, ”after an unprecedented month on strike.

"This pension reform imposed on lawyers is part of a political will to profoundly transform the legal profession, undermining its independence, its economic model and therefore the access to effective law for litigants," says T -he.

VIDEO. Angry Lawyers: "This Reform Will Kill Our Law Firms"

CNB President Christiane Feral-Schuhl praised the "determination" of lawyers who, according to her, the government asked "to organize their own solidarity using their own reserves to switch to an unequal system, very heavy in terms of contributions for a liberal activity ”.

The lawyers are standing up

Lawyers, who contribute for their retirement to an autonomous fund, are standing against the reform project which, according to the CNB, plans to double pension contributions (from 14 to 28%) for lawyers earning less than 40,000 euros per year, and pensions, currently at least 1,400 euros net, would drop to 1,000 euros.

Thursday, Minister of Justice Nicole Belloubet reiterated that the entry of lawyers into the universal regime was "not negotiable".

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But the Keeper of the Seals also reached out to the angry profession by presenting "three commitments": assurances on the maintenance of pensions, "no brutal doubling of contributions" and "maintenance of the pension fund of French bars ( retirement and providence) under the control of the profession ”.

Strong disturbances in certain bars

The lawyers demanded Friday that the government "provide a reliable simulator allowing them to verify the accuracy of the projections". They also say they are ready to "respond to the government's invitation to examine possible adjustments to the scenarios for integration into the universal system".

Many bars had since Thursday extended the strike until Monday, like that of Bastia.

Since January 6, lawyers have asked for postponements of hearing, made zealous strikes by pleading for hours, multiplied requests for release ... In some bars, mobilization sometimes led to up to 80% of criminal hearings returned, as in Nantes or Nice.