It is now a routine for most of the demonstrators who pounded the streets of Clermont this Tuesday, June 6 during this 14th day of mobilization against the pension reform. The place and time of departure (Place du 1er-Mai at 10 a.m.) are well known to everyone, the slogans are well established and the banners and placards have already been used on several occasions.
“People are still angry”: around 8,000 demonstrators in Clermont-Ferrand against pension reform
It must be said that among the 7,000 to 8,000 demonstrators (10,000 according to the unions and 5,000 according to the police), many of them are early activists to fight against pension reform. They are mostly unionized. Many retirees have also joined the movement, such as Didier, who in the past worked at the SNCF:
I am thinking of the young people, of my children, I am there for them today, as was the case during the other days of mobilization.
Against government policy in general
But since the first day of the mobilization (January 19), six months have passed and temperatures have risen. On this spring morning, the thermometer is already approaching 30°C with the rays of the sun hitting the asphalt of the streets of Clermont. But not enough to melt the determination of Daniel and Anne-Marie, originally from Bourges and currently on vacation in the region:
“We looked at the newspaper to find out when and where the demonstration was taking place. Today I am celebrating my 79th birthday and, despite everything, I wanted to be there at all costs. This piece of legislation concerning the pension reform will degrade the situation of young people and women. Hardship is not recognized either. We must show solidarity. And whatever happens, we must continue to mobilize and react to the contempt of the ruling classes. The effectiveness of the common good is not applied by this government”, assures this former official of National Education.
Ready to fight for the future
A few meters further, Agnès, Nathalie, Marie-Christine and Christophe, who work in the motorway sector, know that this reform is now well under way, but “we must not give up in order to show that the French are not disagree with current government policy”. “There will be other battles to fight in order to obtain social progress, wages, employment of seniors, governance of unemployment insurance are all topics for which we will have to fight”, adds Marie .
At the head of the procession, Ghislain Dugourd, secretary general of the departmental union of Puy-de-Dôme, is rather satisfied with this 14th day “which is beyond the forecasts. Many announced a very sharp drop in mobilization, but It’s taken well. It’s a sign that the anger persists and that people still want the reform to be withdrawn.”
With less than 10,000 demonstrators in Clermont-Ferrand, this 14th rally against pension reform is one of the lowest recorded since the start of the movement in terms of participation. However, he demonstrated that the anger did not wane.
Pension reform: for the first time in Clermont-Ferrand, drones will monitor the event
Stephanie Merzet
2023-06-06 17:04:50
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