Consultation on pensions changes regime

"It's not negotiation if we learn things in the newspapers", protests Pascale Coton. The CFTC emissary, like all his counterparts, discovered the first arbitrations of the executive on Monday evening in Olivier Dussopt's interview with Les Échos.

Closure of certain special schemes (EDF, RATP), minimum retirement "around 85% of the Smic" for a full career therefore "beyond 1.100 euros" promised: the Minister of Labor deflowered the second cycle of consultation on the pension reform, which officially opened on Tuesday.

First received by his cabinet, Dominique Corona (Unsa) finds the method "quite mind-blowing" but sees it as a sign that the government is "preparing public opinion". While in the secrecy of the negotiations, "they say nothing", he regrets.

“We are very involved in communication”, also notes Michel Beaugas (FO), who judges “still quite special” these talks where “the minister announces his choices in the press and we only have to align ".

A process already used in early October to clear the ground before a first cycle of bilateral talks. Mr. Dussopt had then put forward some proposals on the employment of seniors in an interview with the Sunday newspaper.

Tracks worked for a month with the social partners, who received last week a "record of discussions" as a progress report. But this document does not mention raising the starting age for "long careers", who can now liquidate their rights at 60 or even 58 years old.

"Super Long Careers"

But the minister clearly alludes to it in his interview with Les Échos. “When we shift the age of opening of rights, it is logical that the levels are shifted by as much”, he affirms, endorsing the postponement of the legal age from 62 to 64 or even 65 years old while announcing an exception for "super long" careers started before the age of 16.

Something to intrigue Pascale Coton from the CFTC, because "super long careers don't exist, it's an expression", which however augurs well for a reform of the existing system. "We don't want to touch it," she said, worried about "making those who start at 17 work up to 62."

The ultra-sensitive subject of the retirement age has not yet been discussed with the unions and must be the subject of a third round of consultation in early December.

"Olivier Dussopt dialogues, works, deepens the various points to build (...) a fair reform, which takes into account the diversity of professional lives", assured the Assembly on Tuesday Élisabeth Borne, in response to a question from the leader of LFI deputies, Mathilde Panot.

"We will gradually have to work a little longer," added the Prime Minister. But "this age difference will allow an increase in pensions, we will not work more for nothing".

On the extension of the contribution period, the executive should be able to count on the support of employers. Éric Chevée (CPME), however, asks for equal treatment: "If we ask private sector employees to work three years longer, those who are in the special schemes must also work three years longer".

For Gérard Mardiné (CFE-CGC), "the government is trying to get people to work up to the age of 65 without questioning the causes that explain why they are no longer employed" at the end of their careers.

The exchanges are supposed to end just before the Christmas holidays, which does not help unions aware of the difficulty of remobilizing after the truce of the confectioners.

"It will not be dealt with in a month. It is clear that the government wants to make a dogmatic reform", denounces Mr. Mardiné. "When we have used up the time for consultation, we will be ready to mobilize", assures Mr. Beaugas (FO).