_GLIBCXX_USE_CXX11_ABI gcc 4.8

we received some libraries (.a) compiled for linux (probably compiled with GCC 6.x).

We are using GCC 4.8 and we are getting the error of the type: undefined reference to std::__cxx11::basic_string when trying to link.

Normally this could be fixed by making sure all units have been compiled with the same _GLIBCXX_USE_CXX11_ABI flag. However if I understood correctly, this was introduced by GCC 5.1 and on.

1. Is there a way to make this work with GCC 4.8 or do we need to ask the people to recompile the libraries with a different _GLIBCXX_USE_CXX11_ABI?
2. I guess switch to GCC >= 5.1 we can make this work?

Thanks!