(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #232 - Pensions: Building the response to the austerity of the left (fr)

We knew that the fight against the bill on pensions would be difficult. Yet the first 
mobilization was not ridiculous. This shows that there is good potential for fighting. 
---- Surprise, the day of action on September 10 against the pension reform sauce PS was 
not expected fiasco: 370,000 people demonstrated, with low numbers of strikes in general, 
but a significant number of walkouts well monitored in the private and the public. Except 
for ... nothing! After delay, FO calls only at a national gathering on October 15. The CGT 
has suddenly not bother to contact United, FSU, then took the initiative to call a 
unilateral action week of October 7 to 11, for early review of the law the Assembly. This 
cacophony, which adds to the division with the unions 'reformist' (CFDT, UNSA, CFTC, CGC), 
is quite unfortunate and must be condemned (it would not be better if you do not want to 
fight) while restoring parallel trade union unity at the base, extending to some unions 
'reformist' showing a disagreement with their confederation and student organizations.

The collective "Retirement, a business of youth" has called for a rally on September 18 in 
Paris. This group gathers around the claim taking into account the years of training and 
unemployment in calculating annual CGT, FSU and Solidarity, the UNEF students and unions, 
youth organizations of the Left Front, the NPA, but the MJS, the Greens youth and young 
Left Radicals. Unions have logically determined that increasing the number of years 
provided by the project only affects the age of 40, and youth engagement is a crucial 
issue. They have forgotten against (or pretended to forget) is that the UNEF in glove with 
the PS.

Build the fight from the immediate concerns
First mistake not to do: fight frontally against the pension reform. For many employee-es, 
especially the younger ones, retirement is something that wave away a little more with 
each new law, on which the various governments lie in continuity. If we had confidence in 
the future and if we had nothing else to do to think about our retirement why not, but for 
many employee-es, the priority is employment (layoffs, job insecurity, job cuts ) and 
wages (employment blackmail in the private, freezing index point in the audience, and, on 
another level, ever increasing taxes for the working class, with the increase in VAT). 
Build struggles requires from the claims of workers', and it is politicizing them we 
construct a general movement on pensions. The blows rained and today are tangible (see AL 
231 ). Simply recall that AL takes its place especially in the struggle against layoffs 
and against the reform of the unemployment insurance in preparation.

UNEF, JS et al did not make a mistake: the collective "Retirement, a case of young people" 
do not really attack the bill. Taking better account of years of training and unemployment 
may well be seen as a damping effect of the reform for young people who have studied. It 
is not impossible that this is a card down to defuse a mobilization that would rise in youth.

Together for the withdrawal
Then, stop to think that only a few events to send a " strong signal (...) towards the 
employers, but also towards the government to hear [our] claims "(Lepaon, AFP dispatch of 
9 September) or that " this reform is progress including the hardship and the inclusion 
of the study years, but we want to improve the bill "(Lepaon, interview on France Info on 
9/10/13). No, PS-Greens government is not hard of hearing or ill-advised. It is clear from 
the employer side and wants to help it to restore its profit rate by lowering the "cost of 
labor", that is to say, our direct and indirect wages (pensions, unemployment benefits, 
etc..). The project will never be "improved" significantly, it will be voted, or withdrawn 
under pressure from the street. It is in this second perspective that lie, claiming the 
withdrawal of the project and building a power by strikes, all together.

The presence in the young group of MJS, the JRG and Young Greens maintains the illusion 
that dialogue is possible with the government. Even if these organizations and the UNEF 
were driving forces ... But not only is it not the case, but in addition they have no 
desire (unlike eg collective Stop CPE in 2006). Thus, the Paris gathering of 18 September, 
there were 30 UNEF to break everything, and two or three representatives from each 
government organization.

Some have seen the strange discourse lately Communists emphasizing the distinction between 
government and Socialist Party.

It is now that we must fight
It is fair to deal with part (majority) of the social movement that has been thought in 
the Netherlands or who advocates the PS but do not identify with the current policy, and 
not to indulge in the information. However, it should not take bladders for lanterns. And 
most importantly, the heart of the debate is also for the Communists. Municipal 
approaching, the PS will continue to work towards the disintegration of the municipal 
implementation of CPF. It will therefore try to limit the damage by alliances with the PS, 
but it will be complicated if next social movement denounces the political scale PS-Greens 
government. The PCF is therefore the big difference between the PS and its ally PG 
refusing any alliance in the first round with the Socialists.

It is now that we must fight, and it is unfortunate that these small election issues 
facing the construction of a mobilization. This is the construction of a mass social 
movement against austerity left that game changer, that will restore hope for fight 
against this system of breath and we will sow the germs of another company.

Gregory (AL Orleans)