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| Macron pension reform: France paralysed by biggest strike in years | Macron pension reform: France paralysed by biggest strike in years |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| France's largest nationwide strike in years has severely disrupted schools and transport. | France's largest nationwide strike in years has severely disrupted schools and transport. |
| Workers are angry about planned pension reforms that would see them retiring later or facing reduced payouts. | Workers are angry about planned pension reforms that would see them retiring later or facing reduced payouts. |
| Teachers and transport workers have been joined by police, lawyers, hospital and airport staff, and other professions for a general walkout. | |
| President Emmanuel Macron wants to introduce a universal points-based pension system. | President Emmanuel Macron wants to introduce a universal points-based pension system. |
| That would replace France's current system, which has 42 different pension schemes across its private and public sectors, with variations in retirement age and benefits. | That would replace France's current system, which has 42 different pension schemes across its private and public sectors, with variations in retirement age and benefits. |
| "What we've got to do is shut the economy down," said union official Christian Grolier of the Force Ouvrière (Workers' Force). "People are spoiling for a fight." | "What we've got to do is shut the economy down," said union official Christian Grolier of the Force Ouvrière (Workers' Force). "People are spoiling for a fight." |
| Since coming to power, Mr Macron has pushed through other reforms including relaxing labour laws and cutting taxes for businesses. | |
| What's the latest? | What's the latest? |
| By midday 180,000 people had joined demonstrations across France, with a march in Paris beginning at 14:00 local time (13:00 GMT), local reports said. | By midday 180,000 people had joined demonstrations across France, with a march in Paris beginning at 14:00 local time (13:00 GMT), local reports said. |
| The CGT union said workers had blocked seven of the country's eight oil refineries, potentially causing fuel shortages if the strike continues. | The CGT union said workers had blocked seven of the country's eight oil refineries, potentially causing fuel shortages if the strike continues. |
| In Paris popular tourist sites including the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d'Orsay and the Palace of Versailles have shut for the day. | In Paris popular tourist sites including the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d'Orsay and the Palace of Versailles have shut for the day. |
| There were also reports of some clashes between protesters and police. By 15:00 local time police in Paris had detained 25 people, Le Parisien reported. In the western city of Nantes protesters were tear-gassed after some threw projectiles at police. | There were also reports of some clashes between protesters and police. By 15:00 local time police in Paris had detained 25 people, Le Parisien reported. In the western city of Nantes protesters were tear-gassed after some threw projectiles at police. |
| How has transport been affected? | How has transport been affected? |
| Meanwhile the Extinction Rebellion group said it had sabotaged thousands of e-scooters by painting over the QR codes that smartphone users scan to unlock the vehicles. | Meanwhile the Extinction Rebellion group said it had sabotaged thousands of e-scooters by painting over the QR codes that smartphone users scan to unlock the vehicles. |
| The group said this was because e-scooters - despite being widely viewed as an ecologically-friendly form of transport - actually required large quantities of energy and resources during their manufacture and had short life cycles. | The group said this was because e-scooters - despite being widely viewed as an ecologically-friendly form of transport - actually required large quantities of energy and resources during their manufacture and had short life cycles. |
| How do French workers view the reforms? | How do French workers view the reforms? |
| Train driver Cyril Romero from Toulouse told France Info he would reconsider his job if the reforms went through. | Train driver Cyril Romero from Toulouse told France Info he would reconsider his job if the reforms went through. |
| "I started in 2001 with a contract that allowed me to leave at 50. But like everyone else, I got the reforms which pushed back my early retirement age to 52-and-a-half and then, in reality, 57-and-a-half for full pension. Now they want to make us work even longer." | "I started in 2001 with a contract that allowed me to leave at 50. But like everyone else, I got the reforms which pushed back my early retirement age to 52-and-a-half and then, in reality, 57-and-a-half for full pension. Now they want to make us work even longer." |
| An unnamed history teacher, writing in HuffPost, was planning to strike on Friday as well as Thursday. | An unnamed history teacher, writing in HuffPost, was planning to strike on Friday as well as Thursday. |
| "For me, the pension reforms are one punch too many. We're fighting not to lose hundreds of euros of pension a month - after more than 40 years in a job. | "For me, the pension reforms are one punch too many. We're fighting not to lose hundreds of euros of pension a month - after more than 40 years in a job. |
| "How can you even dream of ending your career in front of pupils beyond the age of 70, in worsening conditions and on what for many of us is just a minimum wage?" | "How can you even dream of ending your career in front of pupils beyond the age of 70, in worsening conditions and on what for many of us is just a minimum wage?" |
| How much support is there for the strike? | How much support is there for the strike? |
| Some trade union leaders have vowed to strike until Mr Macron abandons his campaign promise to overhaul the retirement system. | Some trade union leaders have vowed to strike until Mr Macron abandons his campaign promise to overhaul the retirement system. |
| One opinion poll put public support for the strikes at 69%, with backing strongest among 18- to 34 year olds. | One opinion poll put public support for the strikes at 69%, with backing strongest among 18- to 34 year olds. |
| However farmers, whose pensions are among the lowest in the country, are not taking part. | However farmers, whose pensions are among the lowest in the country, are not taking part. |
| The Macron administration will hope to avoid a repeat of the country's general strike over pension reforms in 1995, which crippled the transport system for three weeks and drew massive popular support, forcing a government reversal. | The Macron administration will hope to avoid a repeat of the country's general strike over pension reforms in 1995, which crippled the transport system for three weeks and drew massive popular support, forcing a government reversal. |
| A number of "gilets jaunes" (yellow-vest) protesters said they planned to join the demonstrations. | A number of "gilets jaunes" (yellow-vest) protesters said they planned to join the demonstrations. |
| The movement, which emerged at the end of 2018, started with demonstrations against a sharp increase in diesel taxes, but has broadened to reflect anger over higher living costs and President Macron's economic policies. | The movement, which emerged at the end of 2018, started with demonstrations against a sharp increase in diesel taxes, but has broadened to reflect anger over higher living costs and President Macron's economic policies. |
| Are Macron's reforms really that controversial? | Are Macron's reforms really that controversial? |
| Mr Macron's unified system - which he says would be fairer - would reward employees for each day worked, awarding points that would later be transferred into future pension benefits. | Mr Macron's unified system - which he says would be fairer - would reward employees for each day worked, awarding points that would later be transferred into future pension benefits. |
| The official retirement age has been raised in the last decade from 60 to 62, but remains one of the lowest among the OECD group of rich nations - in the UK, for example, the retirement age for state pensions is 66 and is due to rise to at least 67. | The official retirement age has been raised in the last decade from 60 to 62, but remains one of the lowest among the OECD group of rich nations - in the UK, for example, the retirement age for state pensions is 66 and is due to rise to at least 67. |
| The move would remove the most advantageous pensions for a number of jobs ranging from sailors to lawyers and even opera workers. | The move would remove the most advantageous pensions for a number of jobs ranging from sailors to lawyers and even opera workers. |
| Meanwhile, those retiring before 64 would receive a lower pension. For example, someone retiring at 63 would receive 5% less, so unions fear it will mean having to work longer for a lower pension. | Meanwhile, those retiring before 64 would receive a lower pension. For example, someone retiring at 63 would receive 5% less, so unions fear it will mean having to work longer for a lower pension. |
| A recent poll concluded that 75% of people thought that pension reforms were necessary, but only a third believed the government could deliver them. | A recent poll concluded that 75% of people thought that pension reforms were necessary, but only a third believed the government could deliver them. |
| Are you taking part in the strike? Have your travel and other plans been affected due to the dispute? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you taking part in the strike? Have your travel and other plans been affected due to the dispute? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below: | Or use the form below: |