Paris, Nantes, Bordeaux, Marseille, Montpellier … And other big cities. But also the smaller ones like La Rochelle, Valence, Evreux, Tours, La Roche-sur-Yon, Avignon, Montauban, Laval, Périgueux, Besançon, Grenoble, Nancy … Almost 150 processions took place on October 18, bringing together a total of about 300,000 demonstrators. In Paris alone, at least 70,000 made up the long procession from Place d’Italie to Place Vauban.
In all of these events: public sector workers, private sector workers, retirees, young people, high school and university students. All responded to the appeal launched by four trade union organizations, including FO, and four youth organizations. And when we know that this trade union appeal for a day of mobilization, including a strike, was launched less than a week ago, the density of the marches, this October 18, showed, if necessary, the determination of the workers to fight, in in particular, to obtain wage increases but also to oppose the questioning of the right to strike.
The attack conducted by the government for several days against this constitutional right, through the requisition of employees on strike in the refineries, acted as a catalyst in the appeal for mobilization. FROM decided to join this mobilization
the general secretary of the FO, Frédéric Souillot, underlined in the Parisian march, recalling the organization’s opposition to these requisitions and his actions before the courts to assert this right, also this Wednesday 19 before the administrative court of Lyon. On Saturday it was Rennes that agreed with Force Ouvrière, breaking the prefect’s decision to requisition 55 employees of pharmaceutical laboratories.
A sign of the current social malaise, despite a very short deadline for organizing this day, the workers responded here
. Thus, in Paris, in the ranks of FO, there were finance officials, cleaners, employees of the metallurgical sector, teachers … clearly. Difficulties that relate directly to the salary …, insufficient. Inflation is still very high and people can’t take it anymore. And the measures
recalled Frédéric Souillot. FO calls for a massive wage increase, through negotiations, in companies and branches. But also from a revaluation, a real boost to Smic or to the value of the index point in the Public Service. Recall that its latest revaluation of 3.5% does not even compensate for the losses in purchasing power due to inflation this year.one shot
(checks and one-off measures under the purchasing power plan, ed.) do not solve anything
We go out on the street because we can no longer bear this situation
If Jossela, administrative agent (cat. C) and Bouchra, supervisor (Cat. C) came to demonstrate in Paris, it is mainly indicated by salary
. FO banner in hand, Bouchra points the i: work harder to earn less … Enough !
Both territorial operators concretely testify to the consequences of low wages, however slightly revalued (+ 3.5% in July after generally ten years of freezing of salaries / index wages).
We discuss with colleagues and we all notice the increase in the cost of products and the cost of living. The food, the bills … ; we arrive at 30% more expenses. It needs a real upgrade ! But the government doesn’t care about civil servants. Before these Covid crises, energies … we managed to fill the cart with 100 euros, now it is impossible
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Consequences explains Bouchera: deprivation. Always more important. Before, when I went to the market, he says, I bought, for example, a kilo of turnips, a kilo of aubergines. I have not deprived myself of these products. Now I buy a piece ! With our salaries, we no longer live, we survive. And we close the month with a huge bank overdraft. And when the salary arrives, it will cover the overdraft. And it is like this every month ! There for the strike, we lose a day. But pity, we go out on the street because we can no longer bear this situation
.
First we pay the rent, the expenses … Then it’s another story altogether !
For Jossela, expenses are also weighed and measured, as accurately as possible. When I go shopping, I make a list and just take things first. Expenses for exits ? Minimized and we always try, for example, to get cheaper tickets online
. Bouchra summarizes: however, first we pay the rent, the expenses … Then it’s a whole other story !
And this after
Tied spending is almost non-existent. Before, I could do some shopping every three or four months. Now I realize that I haven’t visited a single store for seven months !
Today, continue, we do not just fight for ourselves, we also fight for the young. And we must be united, private and public, together
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Nearby, Nacera and Chris, FO activists and hospital service officers, employed by a private company. When I hear the bosses and the government talk about salaries … it’s absurd. It’s dirty !
Nacera hammer. There is a malaise, especially while we work, because we have hard jobs. However, today – and this is not my salary level – not even people who earn 2000 euros can do it. It is not enough to eat, dress, pay for things for the children. All the prices have risen in the shops and even the food of the poor (rice, pasta, …), as we said before, has become expensive ! As for the fun, it’s over !
Public or private employees: shopping carts are getting thinner …
The one-off measures (energy control, etc.) of purchasing power decided this summer, Nacera and Chris know what to think. I live alone with my two children, I am a service agent, I only have a salary that comes in every month and … I am not entitled to any of this aid
says Nacera. Both are here because It is very important that public and private employees stay together. We are also fighting for young people, so that they can find a job with a decent salary, not a discounted one
.
Christine, a literature teacher in Val d’Oise, near Cergy, came to the Parisian demonstration and explains the list of complaints is very long !
to start with the question of wages, in the face of inflation, the energy crisis and the rise in its prices, the recent requisitions of refinery employees, the lies that have been told about their wages …
Public employee and FO activist, she feels sympathetic to the private sector. Of course ! Private sector employees, I meet them when I go to push the trolley, when I do the shopping. And I see that they have the same shopping cart as me … That is to say they are reducing their purchases too. Faced with this situation, however, there are the salaries of the big names, including that of Total, which has doubled ! This is no longer possible ! Wealth must be distributed fairly ! May everyone live with dignity
Demonstration of the teachers of the professional high schoolsThat day another march was pounding the pavement of Paris, that of teachers from vocational schools, called to demonstrate against the breakdown of vocational training. |
