The CGT Walks Out of the Pension Reform Conclave

Sophie Binet, General Secretary of the CGT, announced on France 2 on Wednesday, March 19, that her union is withdrawing from discussions on pension reform. This decision follows Prime Minister François Bayrou’s refusal to consider reinstating the retirement age at 62, a demand the CGT considers crucial.

A Conclave Under Strain

The CGT is following in the footsteps of Force Ouvrière, which had already left the negotiations on February 27, denouncing a “masquerade.” On the employer side, the U2P has also walked out, calling the discussions a “fool’s game.” Despite these defections, the CFTC, CFDT, and CFE-CGC have confirmed their attendance at the next meeting scheduled for Thursday, while demanding a redefinition of the negotiation framework and timeline.

A Dialogue on the Brink

Sophie Binet criticized both the government and business leaders, accusing them of using the economic and geopolitical context as an excuse to roll back workers’ rights. “Employers are even talking about raising the retirement age to 70—this is unacceptable,” she stated.

While the government insists that discussions will continue, the remaining unions are pushing for more flexibility in the constraints set by the government, particularly the requirement to balance the pension system by 2030. Some are even considering creating a new negotiation framework separate from the current conclave.