“The chaos I think it is Macron who causes it today”, declares Thursday, October 13 on franceinfo Clémence Guetté, vice-president of the LFI-Nupes group in the National Assembly. The MP for Val-de-Marne reacted to the days of mobilization and strike planned for Sunday, October 16 against the high cost of living and Tuesday, October 18 for the wage increase. Concerning the shortage of fuel and the renewed strikes in certain refineries, she supports them and considers that there is a “Interest converges between those who have low salaries and who suffer and those who have low salaries and who go on strike.”
franceinfo: Emmanuel Macron spoke on Wednesday evening of a return to normal next week, what do you answer?
Clemence Guette : I think the movement is growing rather than calming down. The chaos, I think, is Macron who is causing it today. He turned a deaf ear, he gives health defense advice to manage the Covid, defense advice for the energy question but he never consults, he governs against the people and at the moment the Macronist majority is in permanent disarray in the Assembly and what are they doing? They make 49-3.
Regarding the current fuel shortage in France, TotalEnergies is opening collective wage negotiations this Thursday evening, what do you think should be expected?
I hope that Total will listen to the employees. There is a situation of flagrant injustice when we see Patrick Pouyanné, CEO of Total, which has increased by 52% and the billions of euros in dividends paid. There, we are told of a 6% salary increase only, it is an unacceptable imbalance for employees. Salaries must be increased significantly in the country to keep up with inflation.
What do you say to those who cannot work because of this situation?
There is a convergence of interest between those who have low salaries and who suffer and those who have low salaries and who go on strike. I believe they are striking in the name of everyone. I therefore hope that it will take over in other sectors and that the mobilization of October 18 will be important and that the mobilization of this Sunday – the march against the high cost of living that we are organizing – will also be a big success in putting pressure on the government and tell it to act. The government has to let go of things: it has to stop locking itself into this neoliberal straitjacket which says that the rich will continue to get richer and the poor will struggle, but that’s okay. Wages must be increased, prices must be frozen and people must be able to live with dignity. This is what we want.
The strike in the sector has been going on since the end of September, who is responsible for the fact that it dragged on?
I think there is the capitalist system to which the Total group responds perfectly and then there is also a responsibility of the government. He has been told for months to tax super-profits, to force companies to raise wages and to reduce the gaps within companies and he is turning a deaf ear. Obviously, the employees are mobilizing and we are in support of this strike movement. Today, there is deep discontent.