The future of pensions in Europe

International round table on May 21, 2023, 12 noon (Central European Summer Time)

Taking advantage of the economic need following the pandemic, the European Community is demanding an acceleration in the reduction of public pension rights in its countries: France, Spain, … And not only in the EU, other countries such as Switzerland are also seeing their right to public pensions being jeopardised. This path had already been taken by countries such as Argentina or Chile. The demand of European capitalism is not new and is in line with the 1994 World Bank report. Following the interests of the bankers and the private pension funds, the successive reforms are being carried out with the deception of governments, political formations and collaborationist trade unions that lead the working class in each country.

French women workers have been mobilising for months to defend their pensions and we ask ourselves: Why should women workers stay active longer and receive less pension, drawing a future of uncertainty, precariousness and misery? What is driving this resistance in France, unlike in other countries? What role do the financial funds play?

The admirable determination of the French working class – pushing without giving up – shows us the way: Raising class consciousness and direct action is fundamental to move forward and not backward, that is why CNT is facilitating a space for debate and internationalist knowledge, where we will have the participation of comrades from trade unions in the European Community, such as USI (Unione Sindacale Italiana), FAU (Freie Arbeiter-Union, from Germany), SUD Santé Sociaux (Federated in Solidaires, France); from outside the EU, SUD (Switzerland) and we will also have the special participation of a non-European trade union, FORA, from Argentina, a country that went through a similar process and can show us where it is leading to years later. Together with CNT, this international roundtable on the future of pensions in Europe will be broadcasted on CNT’s youtube channel (https://youtube.com/live/gtmzfIJwS78)

Source: CNT