Demonstrations against pension reform: Strike of March 7 a “historic mobilization”

Great day of mobilization against the pension reform this Tuesday, March 7, the unions predicting in unison the “shutdown” of the country.

In Paris, 11 people were arrested in the demonstrations after overflows. At the same time, the bill is considered by the Senate. Article 7, on raising the legal age of departure, could be examined at the end of the day. Tensions in the Parisian demonstration.

This Tuesday, March 7 marks the sixth day of mobilization. The Parisian procession set off in the early afternoon. Boulevard Raspail, the Parisian procession set off on time. Guided by the FSU, it is followed by a compact crowd. On the placards, the slogans refer of course to pension reform, but also to the fight against global warming or to purchasing power.

There have already been eleven arrests, on the sidelines of tensions. A few incidents from demonstrators resembling “black blocks” punctuate the Parisian demonstration with the throwing of projectiles and firework mortars aimed at the police and a few vehicles were vandalized in the rue de la Health, a street adjacent to the main procession. Security forces responded with tear gas canisters.

Pension reform: the CGT claims 700,000 demonstrators in Paris

The unions have been concentrating all their efforts on this day for days, hoping to block the country. Severe disruptions are expected in many sectors, especially in transport, at least until tomorrow. The inter-union hopes that this movement will be long-lasting, with a renewable strike.

At the call of the unions, more than 300 rallies are organized this Tuesday in France against the government plan to reform pensions. The postponement of the legal retirement age from 62 to 64 crystallizes the dispute.

The CGT claims 60% of strikers in the ranks of teachers, when the ministry speaks of 42.35% of strikers in primary and 34.66% in secondary. At the SNCF, which provides for “very strongly disturbed” traffic today and tomorrow, the unions speak of 39% of strikers. EDF management has announced 41.5% of strikers. Finally, the ministry announced 24.4% of state civil servants on strike at midday.

The senators continue their debates and have until March 12 at midnight to try to complete the first reading of the 20 articles of the text. Article 7 of the bill, on raising the legal retirement age, should be examined from the end of the day.

While the unions evoke a day of “historic” mobilization, the ministry estimates that 1.28 million the number of people who marched in France. The CGT counts 3.5 million demonstrators, including 700,000 in Paris, a record since the start of the demonstrations against the pension reform.
According to the Paris police headquarters, 81,000 people marched this Tuesday in Paris. Earlier, the CGT had announced 700,000 demonstrators, a record since the start of the mobilization against the pension reform.

The inter-union has just announced two new dates for mobilization. They will take place on Saturday March 11, as well as on the day of the joint parity committee, either Wednesday March 15 or Thursday March 16.
The police headquarters listed 43 arrests in Paris.
SNCF management presented a slightly improved transport program for Wednesday compared to Tuesday, with a third of the trains in circulation for the TGV and TER.

As part of the national interprofessional social movement, train traffic is severely disrupted on Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 March 2023 on all lines operated by SNCF.

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Gabriel MIHAI

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