The inter-union launches a petition to say "no to the Bayrou budget"

"The government (Bayrou) has chosen to make workers, those in precarious employment, retirees, and the sick pay," wrote all the unions in a rare joint statement accompanying the petition published on the Change.org website.

They denounce measures that they consider "brutal, unfair and ineffective", citing "the elimination of two public holidays, (the) cuts in public services, the undermining of labor law, yet another reform of unemployment insurance, the freezing of social benefits and the freezing of salaries of civil servants and contract workers, the de-indexation of retirement pensions, the doubling of medical deductibles, the undermining of the 5th week of paid leave...".

The inter-union group thus calls for "a rejection of this museum of horrors, and a joint defense of our social model and dignity at work. What we expect is a project that is respectful of the country, a bearer of hope and justice."

On July 15, Prime Minister François Bayrou proposed the abolition of two new public holidays, citing Easter Monday and May 8 as examples, and a new unemployment insurance reform negotiated by social partners to contribute to the budgetary effort.

"We must work more, the whole nation must work more to produce and (...) so that the situation in France improves," declared François Bayrou during a press conference.

For the unions, there is "no question of workers, job seekers, young people and retirees still paying the bill, both financially and in terms of even greater flexibility!"

They believe that the government should prioritize "solutions that include the highest incomes, such as corporate contributions," pointing in particular to "€211 billion in public aid" paid to companies "without transparency or evaluation" or without objectives "in terms of employment."

They also demand "tax justice for high incomes who escape any real contribution."