٠٠:٠٢:٣٢Union leaders criticised talks with Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, held in Paris on Wednesday to discuss recent pension reforms and other measures improve conditions for workers.
"We were promised a social dialogue so to speak but we witnessed two hours of patronising monologue. Once again the prime minister refused to withdraw the pension reform, ignoring all evidence," said Secretary General of CGT trade union Sophie Binet.
However, Borne claimed to have listened but said she would also be taking employers’ concerns into account too.
"We went through a long list of issues, we just spent two hours together. It is not up to me to negotiate with the CGT today. I have listened to the arguments the union wants to put forward and I will do the same with the arguments of the employers' organisations," said Borne during an interview after the talks.
The CFCT Union also reiterated their opposition to President Emmanuel Macron’s recent pension changes, which have led to huge protests across the country.
"Coming to this meeting was by no means to show that we want to move on, but to say that there are other issues that concern us, in particular purchasing power and wages," added General Secretary of CFCT union Cyril Chabanir.
The talks are part of Macron’s domestic plan to improve working conditions, following the demonstrations over his changes to the retirement age and other reforms, and his use of executive powers to force the plan through without a vote in the National Assembly
He claims the changes are needed to keep the system sustainable, while unions have pledge to continue to oppose them.
France: 'Patronising monologue', not 'social dialogue' - Unions condemn PM Borne after pension reform meeting
Union leaders criticised talks with Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, held in Paris on Wednesday to discuss recent pension reforms and other measures improve conditions for workers.
"We were promised a social dialogue so to speak but we witnessed two hours of patronising monologue. Once again the prime minister refused to withdraw the pension reform, ignoring all evidence," said Secretary General of CGT trade union Sophie Binet.
However, Borne claimed to have listened but said she would also be taking employers’ concerns into account too.
"We went through a long list of issues, we just spent two hours together. It is not up to me to negotiate with the CGT today. I have listened to the arguments the union wants to put forward and I will do the same with the arguments of the employers' organisations," said Borne during an interview after the talks.
The CFCT Union also reiterated their opposition to President Emmanuel Macron’s recent pension changes, which have led to huge protests across the country.
"Coming to this meeting was by no means to show that we want to move on, but to say that there are other issues that concern us, in particular purchasing power and wages," added General Secretary of CFCT union Cyril Chabanir.
The talks are part of Macron’s domestic plan to improve working conditions, following the demonstrations over his changes to the retirement age and other reforms, and his use of executive powers to force the plan through without a vote in the National Assembly
He claims the changes are needed to keep the system sustainable, while unions have pledge to continue to oppose them.
Union leaders criticised talks with Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, held in Paris on Wednesday to discuss recent pension reforms and other measures improve conditions for workers.
"We were promised a social dialogue so to speak but we witnessed two hours of patronising monologue. Once again the prime minister refused to withdraw the pension reform, ignoring all evidence," said Secretary General of CGT trade union Sophie Binet.
However, Borne claimed to have listened but said she would also be taking employers’ concerns into account too.
"We went through a long list of issues, we just spent two hours together. It is not up to me to negotiate with the CGT today. I have listened to the arguments the union wants to put forward and I will do the same with the arguments of the employers' organisations," said Borne during an interview after the talks.
The CFCT Union also reiterated their opposition to President Emmanuel Macron’s recent pension changes, which have led to huge protests across the country.
"Coming to this meeting was by no means to show that we want to move on, but to say that there are other issues that concern us, in particular purchasing power and wages," added General Secretary of CFCT union Cyril Chabanir.
The talks are part of Macron’s domestic plan to improve working conditions, following the demonstrations over his changes to the retirement age and other reforms, and his use of executive powers to force the plan through without a vote in the National Assembly
He claims the changes are needed to keep the system sustainable, while unions have pledge to continue to oppose them.