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French Retirement Reform Talks Teeter as Major Unions Withdraw

The CGT's exit intensifies the fragility of the conclave, leaving only five organizations to attempt restructuring negotiations independently of government leadership.

  • The CGT, France's second-largest union, left the retirement reform conclave on March 19, citing the government's refusal to consider lowering the retirement age to 62.
  • Prime Minister François Bayrou has ruled out returning to a retirement age of 62, emphasizing the need to balance the pension system by 2030.
  • Three organizations—Force Ouvrière, U2P, and CGT—have exited the conclave, criticizing the process as unproductive and misaligned with their priorities.
  • The remaining five participants, including the CFDT and Medef, are seeking to redefine the negotiation framework independently of government directives.
  • Public dissatisfaction continues to grow, with calls for protests and support for a potential motion of censure against the government gaining traction.
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