Paris-Sana
The French trade unions announced that they will continue to mobilize and strike following the failure to reach an agreement on pension systems during the meeting that took place today between their representatives and the French government.
France Press quoted General Secretary of the Confederation of Labor General Felipe Martinez as saying after the meeting that nothing concrete .. The Prime Minister did not listen to the street, adding that the unions participating in the strike “request the withdrawal of the project of reforming the pension systems and call for a new day of demonstrations and general strike on the ninth of January".
For his part, Laurent Bergier, Secretary-General of the Democratic Confederation of Labor, said that there is a "difficult item" that is still pending regarding the "balanced age" that the government wants to raise to 64 years instead of 62 years now.
This union supports the principle of adjusting pension systems, but it objects to this provision, which calls on the French to work for a longer period.
On the other hand, the French Prime Minister, Eduard Philippe, considered that the talks had led to "progress", adding that he would meet again with union representatives on the first of next January.
The aim of the meeting, which was held on the day when the strikes entered its third week, was to find a way out of the crisis that has largely paralyzed public transport, especially in the Paris region since December 5.
The main amendment to France’s retirement program suggests that people work longer to get a full pension, which has caused widespread discontent with the trade unions, which have responded with a general strike.