The CGT labor union views this as an initial move towards reigniting protests against pension reform. On Saturday, March 8, France’s leading workers’ union, led by Sophie Binet, along with five other organizations (CFDT, CFE-CGC, FSU, Solidaires, UNSA), participated in demonstrations for International Women’s Rights Day, responding to a joint call from various unions. However, the CFTC and Force Ouvrière chose not to join this coalition but planned to attend the marches independently. This event follows closely on the heels of negotiations that began nine days earlier between labor unions and employer organizations, primarily aimed at revising the law enacted on April 14, 2023, which increased the retirement age from 62 to 64.
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The text continues to face criticism from all trade unions, particularly because they perceive it as an “injustice” disproportionately affecting women. Marylise Léon, general secretary of the CFDT, stated on January 28 that women “are the big losers in the 2023 reform,” while outlining her union’s demands.
This claim is partially supported by research, including a study referenced in the 2023 annual report of the Pensions Advisory Council (COR). This study examines the effects of the April 2023 law on individuals born in 1966, 1972, and 1984. Regardless of the generation analyzed, women will face longer wait times for retirement compared to men. The disparity is projected to widen over time, with women born in 1966 waiting an additional 1.3 months and those born in 1984 waiting 2.7 months longer.
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