Demonstration is crucial, according to Sophie Binet, who considers it the first step towards social mobilization on May 1st.

Get Ready to Make Some Noise: That's the word from Sophie Binet, the chief honcho at the CGT, as we approach May 1st. She's crystal clear: this day marks a crucial step in gearing up for social action. "We ain't gonna be silent, mate," she declares, "without making some noise, we're not gonna be heard." And she's not just talking the talk—she'll be leading the charge, joining forces with the FSU and Solidaires, but without the CFDT, Unsa, and FO.

May 1st: Carrying Lilies, Not So Eco-Friendly Custom* "We're still determined to scrap this pension reform, we wanna see wages skyrocket so we can live like kings again," Binet reminisces, "you know, wages are still stuck in 2020 levels."

"We're Not Listening to the Government on These Topics"

"The main hassles bugging the French folks are still the social issues. But, apart from deafening silence from the government, they ain't lifting a finger to protect our jobs from the axe, they're not standing up for our public services, and they're not battling for our purchasing power and wages," Binet accuses.

More protests are in the pipeline, starting from May 13th with a big get-together for civil servants featuring strikes and parades. And June 5th? "That's when we're calling for a demonstration to boot the pension reform, hike wages, and create jobs," Binet recalls, "now, that ain't something they should sleep on."

In Paris, May 1st will kickstart at 2 pm from the Place d'Italie, with foreign trade union leaders from across the globe. Their mission? To raise the alarm about the "world being turned into a Trump-like cesspool and the international reactionary wave."

Background: Key Issues and Planned Actions

Here's the lowdown on the major social issues and upcoming protests in France, as high-lighted by Sophie Binet:

Main Concerns

Work-Life Harmony and Holidays: Maintaining May 1st as a paid holiday with no work is crucial for Binet. She detests proposals allowing more businesses to operate on this day. "We ain't got enough days to spare," she reasons[1].
Railway Strikes and Discussions: Binet's been embroiled in talks with the railway crew about a potential work stoppage over wage increases and improvements in working conditions[5].
Protests Against Government Policy: Unions, including those headed by Binet, have been riling up against the government's policies, particularly those concerning pensions and labor practices[4].

Upcoming Protests

May Day Rallies: French unions, including the CGT, are likely to take part in May 1st protests to champion worker rights and uphold May 1st as a holiday with no work[1].
Potential Railway Strikes (dependent on discussions): A railway strike was threatened unless demands for better work conditions and increased salaries were met. If negotiations fail, strikes could disrupt the travel plans for the May holiday period[5].
Persistent Protests: Throughout the period, unions may continue protesting against the government's policies, focusing on labor and pension issues[4].

Sophie Binet, the CGT's chief, calls for mobilizations on May 1st, emphasizing the need for loud protests to be heard, not just talked about.
In her accusations, Binet points out the government's inaction regarding job protection, public services, and purchasing power.
On May 13th, there will be a gathering of civil servants featuring strikes and parades, followed by a demonstration on June 5th, aiming to repeal the pension reform, increase wages, and create jobs.
Foreign trade union leaders, joining the protests in Paris on May 1st, plan to raise concerns about the world being turned into a Trump-like cesspool due to the international reactionary wave.