UNISONActive is an unofficial blog produced by UNISON activists for UNISON activists. Bringing news, briefings and events from a progressive left perspective.

Thursday 27 May 2010

French unions protest against pension reforms‏

Demonstrations and protests will be held in all parts of France today in protest at regressive Government plans to extend the retirement age. http://www.france24.com/en/20100525-government-push-unpopular-retirement-age-hike-nicolas-sarkozy

Following reforms by the Mitterand led Government in 1984, France has one of the lowest retirement ages (60) in Europe and right wing President Sarkozy has declared it his priority to roll back this social progress as a central plank of his economic austerity measures.

The CGT - one of six union organisations co-ordinating today’s actions - has called on all workers, pensioners and students to demonstrate against the proposals with hundreds of rallies planned across France – see the CGT website for details.
http://www.cgt.fr/spip.php?article37399

A major march and rally will be held in Paris where the trade unions in the Ile-de-France, (CGT, CFDT, FSU, Interdependent, UNSA) have invited a delegation of Greek trade unionists to head the demonstration, in order to ‘promote a vast resistance movement across all the countries of the European Union.’