No to Austerity!
Keep the Pressure on the Bayrou Government—or Whoever Replaces It.
Bayrou announced a vote of confidence for the government on September 8th, with the sole purpose of sabotaging the call to block the economy on September 10th. Even if his government falls on the 8th, the one that succeeds it will surely adopt the same measures: making employees, the sick, and the unemployed pay, all while protecting the wealthiest. Let’s not be fooled by these maneuvers—let’s keep up the pressure: everyone out in the streets on September 10th.
The Bayrou Budget and Its Impacts
The CGT is breaking down the main points of the Bayrou budget and their impact on our lives.
- Abolition of 3,000 civil service jobs: Fewer teachers for our children [overcrowded classes, watered-down education], fewer nurses and healthcare staff, less staff in emergency services (SAMU), fewer firefighters, judges, prosecutors, and court clerks.
- Reduced healthcare spending, especially for Long-Term Illnesses (LTI) like cancer and cardiovascular diseases: doubling patient fees, delisting medications from reimbursement, and increasing health insurance premiums.
- « White Year »: a freeze on social benefits, pensions, tax increases, and a reduction in grants and housing benefits (APL) for our children or precarious parents.
- Abolition of 2 public holidays: With no salary increase, of course, and for the benefit of shareholders… [work more to earn less].
- No rollback on pension reform or the loss of unemployment benefits: If you ever become unemployed, you’ll only receive half of your salary…
But This Isn’t Inevitable—We Can Act!
This budget project targets employees and the most vulnerable by blaming them, all to the benefit of the wealthiest who are not asked to contribute at all. It attacks essential aspects of our lives like purchasing power, health, children’s education, pensions, and insurance against life’s accidents (unemployment, long-term illnesses, etc.).
Let’s remember that the 500 wealthiest families own €1,500 billion (42% of the GDP), their fortune has tripled since 2015, and €211 billion is given to companies with no strings attached and no effect on employment.
At Airbus and its subcontractors, our dissatisfaction can exert real pressure. It’s time for us to organize to stop the continuous erosion of our social gains and win new ones (a 32-hour week, higher salaries, retirement at 60…). We’ve tried « social dialogue, » and it doesn’t work: far from gaining new rights, the company’s social status has been in constant decline for years (LEAD, Reload, profit redistribution that is increasingly favorable to shareholders, unfair wage policy in light of the dividends paid to shareholders, working conditions, etc.).
The CGT calls on all Airbus and subcontractor employees—union members or not—to go on strike for a duration of their choice, up to the full shift.
Rally on Wednesday, September 10th, at 8 a.m. for a unifying and protestive gathering at the Louis Bréguet entrance, at the roundabout de l’aéronautique in Colomiers.
Toulouse Demonstration: Meet at 2:30 p.m. at Jean Jaurès!
CGT Airbus Commercial Aircraft