At the call of trade unions, a day of strike and demonstrations is planned for Wednesday, June 5th, in France. A movement that will be followed in Nice. The demands focus on repealing the pension reform, increasing wages, and defending employment.
The pension reform, which came into effect despite strong popular opposition, remains at the heart of social anger. On June 5th, a new stage begins. On that day, the French Communist Party (PCF) will present a bill in the National Assembly aimed at repealing the reform. In this context, unions, associations, and political parties are calling for strike action and demonstration.
In Nice, as elsewhere in France, rallies are planned to convey a clear message: the refusal of a reform deemed unjust and penalizing for the most vulnerable, women, and workers in strenuous jobs. According to the message from PCF 06, it is about “taking back what was stolen from us.”
The discourse is assertive. “We, workers, retirees, young people, represent a different vision of society: that of social justice, dignity, respect for those who keep this country running every day,” declares PCF 06 in its call for mobilization.
Salaries, contributions, pensions: a battle for distribution
Beyond the sole issue of pensions, the day of June 5th also addresses wider economic demands. The CGT reminds that the pay-as-you-go pension system relies on social contributions. “Higher salaries mean more contributions for social security, hence better pensions,” stresses the organization.
The issue thus goes beyond mere opposition to the retirement age. For the unions, raising salaries and ensuring gender pay equality are levers to strengthen the solidarity system. Conversely, the multiplication of contribution exemptions, wage freezes, and recourse to untaxed bonuses undermine the balance.
The activists also insist on the demand that dividends paid to shareholders contribute to funding social rights. “A portion of these profits must return to those who produce the wealth.”
The CGT proposes a return to retirement at 62 immediately, then to 60 in the long term. To achieve this, it highlights financial solutions that involve raising salaries, securing employment, and overhauling tax exemptions.
The demonstration on June 5th in Nice fits into a broader framework. It is not just about refusal, but also about concrete proposals for a different social model. The organizations assert: this day aims to make a collective voice heard, for a different distribution of wealth.
