The U2P employers' organization, representing local businesses, announced on Tuesday, March 18, its withdrawal from the pension negotiations that began at the end of February between social partners. In a press release, its president, Michel Picon, justified this decision by denouncing proposals deemed irresponsible in the face of the country's structural deficits. He believes that a return to the legal retirement age of 62 or a reduction in working life would be mistakes in the face of current economic challenges, advocating instead for drastic measures to ensure the system's balance.
The U2P is the first of the three major employers' organizations (alongside the Medef and the CPME) to leave the negotiating table, following in the footsteps of the Workers' Force (FO), which withdrew on the first day. Its departure comes as Prime Minister François Bayrou and several members of the government have ruled out the possibility of a return to 62, emphasizing the need for increased financial efforts, particularly to support the national defense budget. The U2P also points to the growing burden of public spending, notably the €51 billion allocated in 2024 to repay debt interest.
Michel Picon denounces a "ship of France taking on water" and calls for fundamental reforms. In particular, he advocates a rapprochement between net and gross salaries, by transferring certain social security contributions to other sources of funding. He also considers it inevitable to raise the retirement age beyond 64, except for arduous occupations. Finally, he proposes indexing pensions below inflation, with the exception of the most modest retirees, in order to preserve public finances.
The U2P will hold a press conference at 11 a.m. to outline its position and put pressure on the government and other social partners. This withdrawal represents a major blow to the negotiations, reinforcing divisions and raising the prospect of an increasingly controversial reform, while the financial balance of pensions remains a volatile issue for the government.
