municipal elections

It is a call for three days of the first round of municipal elections. Retirees to the streets Thursday to defend their purchasing power. The CGT announced the strong mobilization. On the agenda: 120 demonstrations and rallies in 85 departments. In Paris, unions expect several thousand people for a parade, which will begin at 11 am on the edge of metro Sèvres-Babylone to arrive at the Hotel Matignon, where a delegation asked to be received by Francois Fillon.

The purchasing power of retirees: a campaign theme of Sarkozy

The 1.1% increase in pensions from 1 January, while inflation was 2.6%, crystallized even more discontent that Nicolas Sarkozy had the purchasing power of retirees a campaign theme . The government has announced that a new revaluation would be in 2008 and that the minimum age (guaranteed money) would be increased by 25% during the quinquennium. Meanwhile, 200 euros must be paid at the end of March to its beneficiaries. Proposals that have not satisfied the unions.

A pension of less than 600 euros

Overall, including heritage, "the average" retirees "is not very far from achieving parity in living standards" with the assets, found in November on the Pensions Steering Council (NRC). But there are wide disparities in the amounts collected, especially at the expense of pensioners, often women, have experienced career sawtooth. Some 17% of retirees to receive a direct right pension of less than 600 euros per month and women receive pensions significantly lower.

More than 50% of retirees earn "unless the smic," said François Chérèque (CFDT), requesting an overall increase of pensions, "at least" in line "with the changes in purchasing power."