François Bayrou wants to believe that an agreement is possible during the last session

It is the final day of negotiations on pensions, employers and unions are still trying to find an agreement. It is not certain that François Bayrou’s proposal on the senior bonus is consensus.

We understand that the Prime Minister seeks to obtain an agreement, because this retirement conclave is his idea, his method, his life insurance. He advanced, a bonus to encourage seniors to stay in employment, when they have reached their retirement rights, just to bring the 64 year old pill a little better, the day before the last day of retirement conclave negotiations which takes place on Tuesday, June 17.

But, unions as employers, who have just negotiated in 2024 on this subject of the employment of seniors for months are not applicants. It is a bit unraveling what we did, explains a union leader, when on the employers’ side, a member of Medef confides to be amazed at this proposal when the state has no money. How much a senior bonus? Funded how? Especially since there are already cumulative retirement employment systems. Not sure that the intervention, even the interference of François Bayrou, is very effective

You have to see, because if the unions reluctantly acted that the employers would not move on the legal age of departure at 64, they are fighting for other things: recognition of arduousness, in particular. This is the main tension point. The employers considers that it has taken a big step, accepting in the arduction account of the ergonomic criteria, but in exchange, it wants to remove everything that can allow anticipated departures for professional wear, which is unacceptable for the CFDT which makes it a CASUS Belli.

These positions can evolve, because all of them have an interest in an agreement. The CFDT is keen to win a victory, especially on arduousness, its workhorse. She could thus show that she was right to stay in the conclave, rather than slaming the door like FO and the CGT.

On the employers’ side, the CPME, and its new president, Amir Reza Tofighi which represents small businesses, is looking for an agreement, particularly on arduousness, has made proposals with advanced retirement possibilities for certain employees whose doctors would find a deterioration of their health, due to the arduousness of their position.

Besides, we have seen tightness within the employers’ clan, once is not custom. This internal rivalry can encourage MEDEF to accept an agreement, to clearly show that it remains the leading organization, the one that gives the “the” among business leaders. If he does not sign, the MEDEF takes the risk of passing for a cheesy union and to let an axis Union-CPME settle.

Finally, last point: all intend to show that the social partners are responsible, capable of getting out of the usual cleavages.