Last straight line. Tuesday, June 17, the social partners, who have already been discussed for 6 months, must meet for the last time as part of the Constoversée on the controversy pension reform. François Bayrou launched this new cycle of negotiations last January while the left demanded a suspension of the 2023 reform, which notably provides for the decline in the legal retirement age at 64.
Several social partners have already slammed the Conclave door like FO and the CGT. There remains the MEDEF, the main employers’ organization, as well as the CPME, which represents small and medium -sized enterprises. The CFDTthe CFTC and the CFE-CGC represent employees. After weeks of discussion, partners still oppose the legal retirement age that MEDEF categorically refuses to review downwards.
One chance in 2 that the conclave on pensions leads to an agreement
However, the hypothesis of a possible agreement between participants in the conclave may well become reality. François Bayrou seems to believe it. “While we started from very distant positions, it seems to me that things have advanced somewhat”the Prime Minister told the newspaper La Tribune Sunday, June 15. “I think that the possibility exists to find a dynamic agreement, because what is in gestation is the return of social democracy”he added. The head of government does not exclude, however, that the social partners “Need a few more days” to find common ground, as he specified in Parisian Sunday.
Questioned by the Tribune SundayPatrick Martin, at the head of Medef, table on a 50% chance of finding an agreement. His colleague Marylise Léon, secretary general of the CFDT, who also answered questions from the newspaper of the CMA Média group, abounds in the same direction. Facing MEDEF’s firmness on maintaining the age of departure at 64the trade unionist seems to be ready to go beyond but provided that the employers also make efforts. “There will be no agreement with the CFDT if employers do not advance more on arduousness, if it does not advance on the repair aspect”she said in the Tribune Sunday.
Arduousness, subject of discord between the CFDT and the MEDEF
The CFDT wants the starting age to the Full rate retirement Today at 67 goes to 66 years, an idea offered by the CFTC. “It is a measure of social justice, which will benefit women whose careers are often interrupted”justifies Marylise Léon. For Patrick Martin that “Would only make sense if the trade union organizations offer savings in due competition”. According to him, this measurement “Costs very expensive: 1.2 billion in 2030, 5.5 billion in 2046”.
The CFDT also claims “An enforceable law so that employees who want to open their gradual retirement rights at 80 % from the age of 60 can do so”explains Marylise Léon. The union hopes that employees confronted with difficult working conditions (wearing heavy loads, painful postures, exposure to mechanical vibrations) can retire before the legal departure age. Initially “Opposed to any development of professional wear”MEDEF proposed to rethink the professional prevention account so that it takes into account these arduousness criteria. A proposal deemed insufficient by the CFDT, which considers the position of the MEDEF “unacceptable”. “He must accept early departures from employees exposed to arduousness”requires union organization.
The employers’ organization also offers “Modify the device of incapacity/ disability which today concerns nearly one in 7 people who liquidate his retirement”in “Lowering the age of departure from 62 to 61”. A semblance of consensus seems to emerge on the situation of women. MEDEF, in a document transmitted to the press on June 11, suggests “Allow women who have acquired quarters related to maternity to benefit from an improvement in their pension level by modifying the calculation of the average annual salary”. The latter would be “No longer calculated on the best 25 years but on 23 or 24 years, which will improve their level of pension”. To finance the additional cost, “Parental overpass from 63, established by the borne reform, would be deleted (neutralization of the financial impact)”offers MEDEF. If the idea seems to convince unions, this is not the case with funding.
François Bayrou wants a positive outcome to the conclave on pensions
In parallel, on June 15, François Bayrou spoke of Tribune Sunday the possibility of offering “New Ideas” in order to unlock the situation as quickly as possible. It’s done. Monday, the Prime Minister confirmed that he had proposed to the social partners “Idea” a “prime” for senior employees who “Decide to stay at work”, by paying them “Part of (their) retirement in addition to (their) salary”. “It is a proposal that I made individually to each of the protagonists” And “I am convinced that everyone has to win”launched the Prime Minister during a trip to the Bourget Aeronautical Show. The head of government presents this idea as a “Encouragement to activity” which could ultimately allow a “Best financial balance” of the pension system.
If an agreement were to be reached, François Bayrou will present the project to the deputies as he had engaged there. Insoumise France and environmentalists have already announced that they want to vote a motion of censorship against the agreement from the conclave. For the moment, the support of the Socialist Party and the National Rally remains hypothetical.
