Spring has arrived in Europe in full swing. This strikes, demonstrations and in some cases, unrest They captured major European cities. Increase in cost of living after pension reform in France Brexit or a inflation It was the last straw in a continent where access to fundamental rights such as living place or fill the shopping cart. In Paris, Berlin, Lisbon or London, discontent manifested itself as follows:
France burns with anger over Macron’s pension reform
French unions spearheaded the biggest wave of strikes and demonstrations in the 21st century in the vibrant neighboring country. Since January 19, they have held 10 days of demonstrations, eight of them in the framework of the general strike, against the pension reform that raises the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64 (with a 43-year bonus for full retirement). ). In five days (January 19 and 31, February 11, March 7 and 23), there were nearly a million protesters, according to hard data from the security forces that did not reflect reliable facts.
This anger wave first of all, it is due to the type of reform promoted by the president. Emmanuel Macron and its government. From the French point of view, this is the toughest cut to the French pension system, one of the most developed in Europe, guaranteeing a lower percentage of poor seniors since he became president in 2010. Nicolas Sarkozy increased the legal retirement age from 60 to 62.
In addition, this measure was the last straw for both the deteriorating economic situation due to inflation and a more general malaise due to inflation. energy crisis but also the policies of the centrist leader, which included cuts in the welfare state. Added to this was a vertical style of government and a coup.
Despite facing an impressive wave of unions, the Macronist Executive inflexible position Unable to gain the support of the absolute majority of the deputies in the Grand National Assembly, he imposed the reform with a controversial government decree on 16 March. Article 49.3 of the Constitution. A few days later, a no-confidence motion to overthrow the measure and the Élisabeth Borne Execution was short by 9 votes.
Around the same time, spontaneous youth protests and riots (with countless garbage bag fires and other street furniture objects) were reproduced seven nights in a row. The situation has now calmed down, but unlimited strikes in some sectors, like refineries daily actions of protesters such as fuel and barricades. The ninth general strike will take place on April 6th.
The Macron government took the precaution with its iron stance, but the political cost was very heavy and it came out very worn out from the struggle with the unions. The president’s popularity slumped to its lowest levels since the US crisis. yellow vests. Some voices within the Macronist coalition want the union’s proposal to press the pause button, delay the enactment of reform and renegotiate. Prime Minister Borne summoned union leaders to a meeting in Matignon on April 5th. While expectations aren’t high enough to help resolve it, this will represent the first meeting since social conflict began. ENRIC BONET (Paris)
10.5% the figure that paralyzed Germany
There is not a tenth of a difference between the maximum inflation reached last October and the wage increase demanded by the German public sector union Ver.di for its 2.5 million workers in the sector. 10.4% for the latest increase in prices, compared to the union’s claimed 10.5%. Defending that rate paralyzed trains, airports and public transport across much of the country last Monday. It is requested by Ver.di not only for employees of passenger transport, but also for company personnel. municipal cleaning services, clinics, geriatrics or nurseries recruited by public institutions.
It’s a reasonable demand, since it’ll be almost a millimeter of annual adjustments to their salaries for inflation. But this could lead to the next pandemic, not only social but also economic, in the community bloc’s initial strength, and if it eventually manages to narrow it out of the recession, it will be close.
So far, the anger of the struggling workers has not turned into chaos, barricades or mountains of garbage piling up in the streets. Many previous days certain strikes etc. Images of the national-scale warning strike that followed corresponded to abandoned stations and airport terminals as they were not seen even during travel restrictions due to covid.
But the fight for that percentage goes beyond many negotiations between employers and unions that meet sometime in the decimal place.
Germany is an industrial and economic power, but this wealth does not reach many of its citizens. Real wages had already lost 3.5% last year, before the scourge of inflation triggered by the energy crisis. Employment numbers are breaking records: the working population – out of a total of 82 million – is 45.5 million, but about 12 million of these workers work part-time. Not because they wanted to, not to reconcile their family and work lives, but simply because they found a job in the format. mini job. The introduction of the inter-professional minimum wage – 13 euros per hour starting this April – promoted by the Social Democratic Party (SPD) has improved working conditions. But in the future, they will receive a minimum pension based on the level they contribute. In Berlin, the capital of the first economic power, the proportion of the population on the verge of poverty or marginality is 16.9%. MARINA FERRER (Berlin)
Great mobilization in Portugal
The first three months of the year started with great social mobilizations in Portugal. The most prominent were carried out by trade unions. teachersthose who have called for a strike since December to demand, among other measures, their return to over nine years in which career advancement has been frozen. For now, the Portuguese government has solved almost a third of it, but teachers find it insufficient. Executive and training associations continue discussionalthough the Ministry of Education finds the cost of regaining all the years of a teacher’s career improbable.
Other public workers’ unions, such as justice officials, are also demanding that the frozen time be reinstated, although they cannot reach an agreement with the executive for the time being in their latest proposal. Reducing the points needed raise the salary scale for workers with more than 18 years of cumulative service. Transport strikes, particularly at the state rail company Comboios de Portugal, had a strong impact on passenger movement.
Doctors are also in the process of negotiating with the Government, where they demand urgent structural measures and better working conditions to fix and attract existing staff. young workers, who in most cases choose to enter private healthcare or immigrate to northern European countries with better salaries. one of two main things unionsThe National Federation of Doctors (FNAM) called for a two-day strike in early March, hoping to put pressure on the Government, which it will meet by the end of June.
Beyond the protests in every sector, there were also mobilizations against the general increase in the cost of living, led by the country’s main union, the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP). Among their demands, minimum wage increase Up to 850 euros – something the Government only foresees in 2025 – and an increase in all wages of at least 100 euros per month. According to the National Institute of Statistics, the union withdrew the income agreement reached between employers and the UGT union, arguing that it did not compensate for the 7.8% increase in inflation in 2022.
The Chief Executive Officer, who tries to reduce the tension in the streets, Antonio Costa In January, an additional 1% increase and 15.4% increase were announced in the salaries of public employees, which were added to the 52 euros increase for monthly wages below 2,612 euros. Dietary allowances, which would amount to a total of 445 million euros in additional costs for the state. LUCAS FONT (Lisbon)
One-year heart rate in the UK
More than a year ago in the UK, Boris Johnsonthat the public sector is battling a wave of strikes that threaten to take control of the Government. All sectors called for a strike, from the railroad workers, from the Post Office, nurses (for the first time in history) or ambulance drivers to school teachers, public defenders, trash cans or border guards. All of them want a rise in wages in line with inflation, which is over 10%. The problem is that the Government no longer has any more money for this year.
Currently the Government Rishi Altar managed to temporarily halt their strike. nurses and ambulance drivers to initiate negotiations. offered them 3,800 pounds additional payment and an additional 5% salary increase next year. The unions are examining the proposal. The strikes of nurses, ambulance workers and physiotherapists Cancellation of more than 140,000 operations and citations. It costs the government £2.5 billion.
Negotiations are more complex. trainee doctorsthose asking for a raise 25% of the payroll, and above all with teachers of schools and institutes. After weeks of deliberation, a single payment of £1,000 for this school year and an increase of 4.3% next year for most teachers was on the table. However, the union described the proposal as follows:humiliating” and threaten to call strikes equivalent of selectivity in Spain for the beginning of summer, when pre-university exams are scheduled at national level.
The government also succeeded in temporarily suspending the rail strikes planned for this Holy Week by opening negotiations with the unions. They say any salary offer should reflect: increased cost of living, which is more than 10%. The rail industry warns that it will not reach this rate as the pandemic has created a huge deficit in its financial situation. They offered train conductors a 4% retroactive raise for 2022 and a 4% raise for this year. But unions called the proposal “ridiculous”. So, for the moment, despite the thin truce, the end of the conflict is not in sight. A. NIUBÓ (London)