Pension reform: Elisabeth Bourne hosts trade union leaders in Matignon

The day after the dinner on this occasion at the Elysee Palace, Elizabeth Bourne receives several trade union leaders separately this Thursday morning in Matignon. Starting with CGT bosses Philippe Martinez and CFDT bosses Laurent Berger, days before his pension reform presentation.

The prime minister, who advocates a dialogue-based method, hosts Philippe Martinez, secretary general of the CGT, at 8:30 am, followed by Laurent Berger, secretary general of the CFDT, at 9:30 am, according to her agenda released Thursday evening. . She will then meet with CFE-CGC President Francois Ommeril and CFTC President Cyril Chabanier.

According to the latter, “we are talking about summing up the results of the first two aspects” of the reform, which relate to the employment of the elderly and labor intensity on the one hand, special regimes, minimum pensions and public service on the other hand, “but so that we talk less about the third component regarding funding and the statutory retirement age.

“There are a number of questions that we are waiting for answers,” Mr. Chabanier added to AFP, pointing out that these meetings are taking place in parallel with bilateral meetings at the Ministry of Labor.

Thursday’s meetings in Matignon take place the day after the Majority Dinner at the Élysée, especially on pensions, around President Emmanuel Macron and Ms Born, with the heads of parliamentary groups and the Renaissance, MoDem and Horizons parties.

And the “first date of mobilization of units” in January?

Representatives of various parliamentary factions – the majority of the opposition – will be received next week, before the presentation of the main directions of the reform by Ms. Born around December 15, the head of government’s entourage added.

Unions CFDT, CGT, FO, CFE-CGC, CFTC, Unsa, Solidaires and FSU on Monday night reaffirmed their opposition to “any reduction in the statutory retirement age as well as any increase in the contribution period” and warned that they would decide on ” the first date for the mobilization of units” in January, “if the government supports its project.”

Emmanuel Macron advocated during the presidential campaign the postponement of the legal age from 62 to 65 years before calling for a reduction to 64 after re-election, combined with an increase in the contribution period.

These issues are currently the subject of consultations between the government and the social partners, which are due to conclude on Friday. The bill is then due to be presented in January before it is considered in Parliament.

It remains to be seen whether the executive branch, with a relative majority in the Assembly, will be able to refuse to use Article 49.3 of the Constitution, which allows the adoption of a text without a vote, except for a vote of no confidence.