Pension reform: “The quality at work has deteriorated”, according to Alba Ventura

Day of mobilization against the pension reform. Does working still have meaning? A little provocation… But no more than Sandrine Rousseau when she asserts that we must work less because “the more we work the more carbon we emit”, or when she defends “the right to laziness” and declares that “work is a right value”.

In CGT, the T is for “work”. And work, originally is well worth left. But we are not going to redo a history lesson. It just seemed to me that there was one aspect of the pension reform that had been overlooked: it is the dimension of work, the meaning of work.

What about fulfillment at work? Do you feel useful at work? Does work help develop creativity, intelligence, foster social relationships? Do we ask ourselves the question of his contribution to society? Isn’t work giving meaning to one’s life? Have a position, have a social responsibility?

Arm hardship devices

I’m talking about all the jobs. Whether you are a hairdresser, cashier, administrative agent, welder, teacher, whether you are in maintenance, or a farmer, caregiver. There are no useless jobs. I don’t know if this notion of utility, the value of work, still has a sense when we hear more and more about boredom at work, silent resignation.

Sure the Covid has been there, and has changed the relationship to work for many. But working is always creating wealth and always participating in solidarity. Please note that I am not saying that people are wrong to oppose pension reform and I think that we must arm the hardship deviceslong careers, and for women, who earn almost 30% less than retired men and I am also thinking of all those who were getting closer to leaving and who still have to continue for a year or two.

Turn the tide, do not experience your work as a test, a suffering

I wonder if in the end the most fulfilling thing today isn’t thinking about retirement rather than about work. The quality at work which has deteriorated. Today, it is more difficult to find the compensations, the quid pro quos that made difficult, repetitive work acceptable. An example that I have often heard, an employee who does maintenance in a warehouse is less valued since everything is robotized. He no longer has any use in the organization of his work, the only thing that is asked of him is to go quickly.

It underscores his skills. This means that alongside the pension reform, it is absolutely necessary to carry out this project which consists in giving meaning to work. Turning the tide, not experiencing your work as a test, a suffering. Do not have the feeling that it is only in retirement that one begins to live.

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