The French government began negotiations with unions Wednesday over potential changes to a landmark pension reform bill, which has led to crippling transport strikes and seen hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets over the past couple of weeks.
President Emmanuel Macron asked his government to hold negotiations with unions. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe met with unions as well as employer organizations on potential amendments to the reform package, almost two weeks after the strikes began.
An agreement withhard-left unions appears to be a way off. The leader of the CGT union, Philippe Martinez, acknowledged a “deep disagreement” with the prime minister after their meeting.
“We have two clashing perspectives,” he said. “We don’t have the same values.”
Yet the government is seeking to get a deal with more moderate unions, which Macron hopes may weaken the protest movement.
A close aide to Macron, who was speaking anonymously in accordance with customary practices, said the president “won’t abandon the project,” but is “willing to improve it.” Macron himself is not planning to get involved in the negotiations nor to make any announcement in coming days.
Among the changes mooted, which the government has yet to rule out, is postponing the date at which individuals retire on a full pension – arguably the main cause of discontent – by two years. The proposal to increase the state-sanctioned retirement age from 62 to 64 is currently scheduled for 2027.
Officially the government has said very little about what it could compromise with. The furthest government spokeswoman Sibeth N’Diaye has gone is to say that the retirement age is a “proposal.”
Macron’s planned reforms are aimed at unifying France’s 42 different pension regimes into a single one, which would abolish special provisions allowing certain workers to retire as early as their 50s. They would also keep the system financially viable, according to the government.
“We must find a compromise,” Macron’s aide said.
With Christmas looming, Macron and his government are seeking to pile the pressure on unions for a “pause” in the strikes during the holiday period so families can get around the country.
Some unions though want the strikes to continue during the holidays.
The government plans to formally present the pension bill in January. The text will then need to be approved by parliament, where Macron’s party has the majority.