“We are not the last wheel of the cart”, retirees gathered on the square of the Béziers sub-prefecture

Les parapluies étaient de sortie sur le parvis de la sous-préfecture. Midi Libre – Rodrigue Delpas

This Tuesday, March 26, at 10:30 a.m., around forty people gathered to demonstrate for their rights.

"It would have needed good weather", two retirees sang together, on the square in front of the Béziers sub-prefecture, this Tuesday, March 26. Despite the torrential rain that fell on the city of Paul-Riquet, there were around forty of them who gathered on the occasion of the gathering for retreats at the call of the union union of retirees of Hérault and "of nine" (the nine retiree organizations UCR-CGT, UCR-FO, CFTC, UNIR CFE-CGC, FSU, Solidaires, FGR FP, LSR, Ensemble & Solidaires). On a remake of "I will survive", they tried to shelter themselves as much as possible with their umbrellas which blew away with the wind.

"It’is a day of national appeal, explained Bernard Roustan, of the Union union of retirees. We want to show that we (retirees) have our own demands. We are not the last wheel of the cart."

Loss of purchasing power

It was he who took the floor to raise demands such as the rematerialization of pension slips or the development of public services across all territories . It was also mentioned, among other things, the loss of purchasing power with inflation correlated with the too low increase in pensions.

Remarks which were unanimous among the forty or so demonstrators. It was notably said that "the government despises retirees".

A fairly brief speech which ended with a sentence which sparked laughter but also, and above all, the assent of all: "And now, I suggest you go and take shelter!".