Macron CONDEMNED: French president slammed by trade union boss days before strike action

Philippe Martinez, leader of the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), condemned the French president during an interview with newspaper Le Parisian. 

The French trade union is organising a day of action on Tuesday where it will demand the Paris government gives more financial aid to improve the lives of the elderly. 

The union is calling for one carer for each elderly person living in an old people’s home, which would require 200,000 more people being hired. 

Mr Martinez said that after the election “he pretended to talk to the unions” but nothing of substance came out of the negotiations. 

He said: “We want to start from the concerns of employees.

“The national day of action organised for next Tuesday will be an interesting example. I can assure you that many people will go.”

He said Mr Macron should force companies such as Google, Amazon, Facebook and Airbnb to pay their taxes in France, rather than force pensioners to work. 

During the interview, Mr Martinez also said that the “government sees that there is a strong dissatisfaction in this country. We’re only just starting”.

The general secretary said: “Macron’s strategy is to spare the rich, it means that retirees who are well off go to bask in Miami and young people are left without being able to find a job.

“Employees must be given the opportunity to leave at 60, we must be able to live decently.”

When he was asked about the unemployment benefits, he said: “They should compensate all unemployed people, half of people do not receive anything”. 

When Mr Macron unveiled his labour reforms last August, the CGT called for street action concerned they would lead to an “end of the work contract”. 

Additional reporting by Maria Ortega