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Strikes in France: A Difficult Commute, and Protests Planned As France Strikes, Commuters Suffer and Protests Are Planned
(32 minutes later)
A protest against changes to France’s pension system was expected to bring broad swaths of the country to a standstill on Thursday, with nationwide strikes shutting down transportation and leaving schools and hospitals unstaffed and basic government services unmet. A protest against changes to France’s pension system brought parts of the country to a grinding halt on Thursday, with nationwide strikes shutting down transportation and leaving schools and hospitals unstaffed and basic government services unmet.
Throughout the country, workers stayed home to register opposition to the proposed changes pushed by President Emmanuel Macron. The widespread participation in the strike suggested deep social discontent, creating a new test for the government after its largely successful efforts to shut down last year’s “Yellow Vest” protests. Commuters struggled to find ways to get to work as subways in Paris were largely shut, children left for school early and only about one in eight suburban trains were running in many areas, if they were running at all.
About one in eight suburban trains were running in many areas, if they were running at all. Subways in Paris were largely shut, children left for school early, and traffic was far lighter than normal. Throughout the country, workers stayed home to register opposition to the proposed changes pushed by President Emmanuel Macron. The widespread participation in the strike suggested deep social discontent, creating a new test for the government after its largely successful efforts to tamp down last year’s “Yellow Vest” protests.
Hundreds of demonstrations were planned all over France, and the government was expected to deploy some 6,000 police in Paris alone amid fears that some could turn violent. Some police stations closed, and 70 percent of primary schoolteachers were set to strike as well. The strikes began on Wednesday night, with workers at the national rail company walking off the job, parts of the Paris subway system shutting down and buses returning to their depots, but the situation is likely to become far more severe as Thursday continues.
Stores and banks were boarded up, especially along the route of the main demonstration in northern Paris scheduled for this afternoon, as the police anticipated hundreds of casseurs — the “breakers” who have caused havoc in previous protests. Hundreds of demonstrations were planned across France throughout the day, and the government was expected to deploy some 6,000 police officers in Paris alone amid fears that some could turn violent. Some police stations closed, and 70 percent of elementary-school teachers were set to strike as well.
Inside Paris, traffic appeared normal early Thursday, and some garbage collection was being carried out. In the main provincial cities ­— Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Marseille, Nantes and Lille — few trains were running. Stores and banks were boarded up, especially along the route of the main demonstration in northern Paris scheduled for this afternoon, as the police anticipated hundreds of “casseurs,” or “breakers,” who have caused havoc in previous protests. In central Paris, traffic appeared normal early Thursday, and some garbage collection was being carried out. In provincial cities ­such as Bordeaux, Lille, Marseille, Nantes and Strasbourg, few trains were running.
Ninety percent of France’s famed high-speed trains were canceled around the country, as were 80 percent of its express regional trains. The Eurostar, which connects Paris to London by train, was also running a reduced service. Ninety percent of France’s famed high-speed trains were canceled, as were 80 percent of its express regional trains. The Eurostar, which connects Paris to London, was also running a reduced service. Truck drivers on the country’s highways were engaged in a slowdown in an effort to slow the nation’s economy, and airlines were expected to reduce flights by at least 20 percent.
Truck drivers on the country’s highways were engaged in a slowdown in an effort to slow the nation’s economy, and airlines were expected to reduce flights by at least 20 percent.
Getting to work on Thursday morning was especially challenging for residents of Paris, where all but a few metro lines were completely shut down, and many buses remained idle in their depots.Getting to work on Thursday morning was especially challenging for residents of Paris, where all but a few metro lines were completely shut down, and many buses remained idle in their depots.
“The state is of course respectful of strikers who are protesting the pension reforms, but is also preoccupied by the millions of French people who wish to travel tomorrow and in the coming days,” said Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, the junior transportation minister, in a news conference on Wednesday evening.“The state is of course respectful of strikers who are protesting the pension reforms, but is also preoccupied by the millions of French people who wish to travel tomorrow and in the coming days,” said Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, the junior transportation minister, in a news conference on Wednesday evening.
Mr. Djebbari, flanked by the heads of the Paris transportation authority and the national railway company, said the government would help promote alternative solutions like private buses lines to help commuters, and that it had received assurances from ride-hailing companies that surge pricing would be limited. Mr. Djebbari, flanked by the heads of the Paris transportation authority and the national railway company, said the government would help promote alternative solutions like private bus lines to help commuters, and that it had received assurances from ride-hailing companies that surge pricing would be limited.
At the Trocadéro station in Paris at 9 a.m., commuters saw that the metro entrance grates were rolled down and kept walking.At the Trocadéro station in Paris at 9 a.m., commuters saw that the metro entrance grates were rolled down and kept walking.
Confusion reigned, as people rushing to work checked to see whether the No. 9 line was up and running. (It was, but only during rush hours, and only on a limited stretch that did not include that station.)Confusion reigned, as people rushing to work checked to see whether the No. 9 line was up and running. (It was, but only during rush hours, and only on a limited stretch that did not include that station.)
El-Kabir Abdoulhamid, 37, looked at the map on his smartphone and concluded: 25 minutes by foot. He had already taken a packed commuter train from the suburb of Evry, and his full commute would be at least 30 minutes longer than usual.El-Kabir Abdoulhamid, 37, looked at the map on his smartphone and concluded: 25 minutes by foot. He had already taken a packed commuter train from the suburb of Evry, and his full commute would be at least 30 minutes longer than usual.
“But I support their right to strike,’’ said Mr. Abdoulhamid, who works in banking. “It’ll force employers to reflect. This is about pensions. You can’t have people living in misery in their retirement.’’“But I support their right to strike,’’ said Mr. Abdoulhamid, who works in banking. “It’ll force employers to reflect. This is about pensions. You can’t have people living in misery in their retirement.’’
Many others expressed support for the strikers, though not without limits.Many others expressed support for the strikers, though not without limits.
“It’s O.K., they have a right to defend their rights,’’ said Eric Paul, who works in insurance. “If it doesn’t last too long, it’s acceptable.’’“It’s O.K., they have a right to defend their rights,’’ said Eric Paul, who works in insurance. “If it doesn’t last too long, it’s acceptable.’’
Mr. Paul said the government was partly to blame for heightening anxiety by not being fully transparent about pension reform.Mr. Paul said the government was partly to blame for heightening anxiety by not being fully transparent about pension reform.
“Even me, as a salaried worker, I’m not sure how I’ll be affected,’’ he said.“Even me, as a salaried worker, I’m not sure how I’ll be affected,’’ he said.
Not everyone was as familiar with the issues. Two teenagers who were headed to school turned away from the station, confused.Not everyone was as familiar with the issues. Two teenagers who were headed to school turned away from the station, confused.
“I don’t even know what this is about,’’ said Kenzo Kemache, 15.“I don’t even know what this is about,’’ said Kenzo Kemache, 15.
“Pensions,’’ said Aboud Diop, 15.“Pensions,’’ said Aboud Diop, 15.
Mr. Kemache voiced his support but noted that the temperature had dipped below freezing. “Couldn’t they have picked a different day?”Mr. Kemache voiced his support but noted that the temperature had dipped below freezing. “Couldn’t they have picked a different day?”
France has one of the world’s most generous pension systems, and past efforts to change it have long proven perilous in French politics. But President Emmanuel Macron is pushing ahead, hoping to streamline a byzantine system of 42 different pension plans that collectively are headed toward a $19 billion deficit.France has one of the world’s most generous pension systems, and past efforts to change it have long proven perilous in French politics. But President Emmanuel Macron is pushing ahead, hoping to streamline a byzantine system of 42 different pension plans that collectively are headed toward a $19 billion deficit.
Mr. Macron proposed merging the various plans, public and private, into one state-managed system, in which workers would accumulate points throughout their careers and then cash them in. He has sold the idea as a fairer system, but some are concerned they would be left with lower payouts.Mr. Macron proposed merging the various plans, public and private, into one state-managed system, in which workers would accumulate points throughout their careers and then cash them in. He has sold the idea as a fairer system, but some are concerned they would be left with lower payouts.
The strikes are not directly tied to last year’s Yellow Vest protests, which channeled deeper discontent into a movement that brought tens of thousands of people into the streets and extracted economic concessions from the government. But the Yellow Vests said they would join the new protest, as did a wide spectrum of unions and political parties.The strikes are not directly tied to last year’s Yellow Vest protests, which channeled deeper discontent into a movement that brought tens of thousands of people into the streets and extracted economic concessions from the government. But the Yellow Vests said they would join the new protest, as did a wide spectrum of unions and political parties.
Adam Nossiter, Norimitsu Onishi, Aurelien Breeden, Daniel Victor and Michael Wolgelenter contributed reporting.Adam Nossiter, Norimitsu Onishi, Aurelien Breeden, Daniel Victor and Michael Wolgelenter contributed reporting.