France’s ninth day of strikes against a deeply unpopular pension age rise delayed trains, halted schools, and littered the streets on Thursday.
La Parisien said protesters stopped a motorway near Toulouse in southwest France and a bus depot in Rennes in the morning. Later that day, nationwide protests were planned.
Despite nationwide outrage, President Emmanuel Macron announced Wednesday that the legislation his government rammed through parliament without a vote last week would take effect by year’s end.
“The best reaction we can offer the president is that there are millions of people on strike and in the streets,” said Philippe Martinez, leader of the hardline CGT union.
Since January, union-organized marches against the policy changes, which raise the retirement age to 64 and hasten the years one needs to work to earn a full pension, have drawn massive audiences.
Since the administration passed the law without a vote last week, protests have become angrier.
Paris and other towns have seen spontaneous rallies with trash bin fires and police clashes over the previous seven nights.
Labor unions predicted large numbers for Thursday’s strikes and protests against Macron’s “scorn” and “falsehoods.”
Laurent Berger, leader of France’s largest union, the moderate CFDT, said on BFM TV’s pension bill must be repealed.
Since the “Yellow Vest” rebellion four years ago, the newest protests have posed the greatest threat to the president. Surveys reveal that most French reject the pension law and the government’s plan to pass it without a vote.
Labour Minister Olivier Dussopt said the administration recognized the tensions but wanted to move on.
“Retirement age will remain contentious. Nonetheless, many topics can rekindle discourse “he added.
“Things will happen gradually,” he stated.
Thursday’s rolling strikes cut electricity supplies.
To ensure petrol supplies for southern France, the government has reissued a requisition order ordering certain Fos-sur-Mer fuel station workers to return.
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