Faced with the “economic, social and moral shipwreck of the five-year term”, Sophie Binet expects “a change of direction” from Gabriel Attal

Asked about the appointment of Gabriel Attal to Matignon, the general secretary of the CGT, Sophie Binet, guest of the RTL-Le Figaro-RTL Grand Jury this Sunday, called for a “change of course” of this new government. “We are waiting for action,” she insisted, denouncing “the economic, social and moral wreck of Emmanuel Macron’s five-year term.” The leader of the CGT must meet in the coming days with the Prime Minister who must discuss with each of the employers' organizations, trade unions and elected representatives' organizations.

The trade unionist notably castigated the latest social reforms described as “violent”, the work orders, unemployment insurance, pension reform, a “democratic anomaly”, she said, “which stole two years of our our life". “Each time, the government sold us these reforms by telling us it wanted to achieve full employment and improve the economic situation. But we see that this is not the case: despite these reforms, unemployment is on the rise again, the trade balance is in deficit and business failures are increasing,” she enumerated.

One of the first explosive issues on which the new Prime Minister is expected to be addressed by the unions is the immigration law, against which a new rally is planned for January 21, four days before the decision of the Constitutional Council. The legislative text, which aims to control immigration and improve integration, provides, among other things, for the establishment of migration quotas, the tightening of the conditions for family reunification and access to benefits, the exceptional regulation of workers in professions in shortage or even measures to facilitate the expulsion of foreigners in an irregular situation.

“This law dishonors France,” insisted Sophie Binet, who calls on Emmanuel Macron not to promulgate the text. “As the Olympics approach, we tell the world that we no longer want foreigners,” she said, stressing that “without immigration, the economy could not function, 60% of aid at home are of foreign origin.” The general secretary of the CGT reiterated her call for civil disobedience with regard to the section on the conditionality of social assistance, which echoes the principle of “national preference”, put forward for years by the National Rally. “It is in total contradiction with the values ​​which underpin social security (...), solidarity cannot be a crime. If this law is ever promulgated, if employees are required to report people without a residence permit, we will organize with them to protect them.”

Another issue that concerns union organizations at the start of the new year is the issue of senior employment, which has become highly political with the increase in the retirement age. The CGT has started negotiations on the subject with employers and is pleading for restrictive measures, which companies are refusing for the moment. The CGT wants layoffs to be limited beyond a certain age. “We must prohibit collective contractual terminations because it is often seniors who are targeted”, recommends the leader, “it is the government which forces them to work two more years, it is making fun of the world to let companies are increasing their departure plans for seniors, we must force them to take measures.”

Also read: Inflation slowed to 4.9% on average in 2023, after 5.2% the previous year

Finally, while salary increases almost followed inflation last year and signs of a lull in prices appeared in January, the question of salaries continues to concern the social partners. How can we raise wages without raising prices? “In fact, today prices are exploding but wages are falling,” replied Sophie Binet, refuting any price-wage loop at the origin of inflation. “The increase in prices is linked to the explosion of profits and dividends, even the IMF says so (...). There are millions of employees who cannot live on their salary.”