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Strikes Spread Across France for 6th Day, but Government Defends Its Pension Plans Strikes Spread Across France for 6th Day, but Government Defends Its Pension Plans
(about 11 hours later)
PARIS — The crowds of protesters taking to the streets of France on Tuesday to denounce President Emmanuel Macron’s bid to remake the pension system may have been smaller, but positions on both sides appeared as hardened as ever a day before the government was set to reveal the plan’s final details.PARIS — The crowds of protesters taking to the streets of France on Tuesday to denounce President Emmanuel Macron’s bid to remake the pension system may have been smaller, but positions on both sides appeared as hardened as ever a day before the government was set to reveal the plan’s final details.
Thousands of demonstrators marched across the Left Bank in Paris, spearheaded by unions experiencing a boost in strength after bringing nearly a million out on the streets a week ago. Still, the numbers Tuesday were down sharply all across France, according to the Interior Ministry, with under 350,000 over all, and just below 40,000 in Paris.Thousands of demonstrators marched across the Left Bank in Paris, spearheaded by unions experiencing a boost in strength after bringing nearly a million out on the streets a week ago. Still, the numbers Tuesday were down sharply all across France, according to the Interior Ministry, with under 350,000 over all, and just below 40,000 in Paris.
Union leaders vowed to continue marching until the government withdraws its plan, while in Parliament, Prime Minister Édouard Philippe offered no hint that Mr. Macron might back down from his plan to merge the 42 different state-managed pension plans into a single system.Union leaders vowed to continue marching until the government withdraws its plan, while in Parliament, Prime Minister Édouard Philippe offered no hint that Mr. Macron might back down from his plan to merge the 42 different state-managed pension plans into a single system.
Mr. Philippe, addressing the fears of many workers, promised that under the new plan, retirees’ “quality of life will not go down.”Mr. Philippe, addressing the fears of many workers, promised that under the new plan, retirees’ “quality of life will not go down.”
For Paris and its region, Tuesday was another day of transport chaos, the sixth in a row, as rail and subway workers continued striking. There were hundreds of miles of traffic jams, streets in Paris were thick with cars, and desperate commuters crammed into the few packed trains available.For Paris and its region, Tuesday was another day of transport chaos, the sixth in a row, as rail and subway workers continued striking. There were hundreds of miles of traffic jams, streets in Paris were thick with cars, and desperate commuters crammed into the few packed trains available.
On the Rue des Archives in the Marais, Yateeha Krishan, a 27-year-old from Sri Lanka, had finished her morning shift cleaning offices and was wondering how to get home to her suburb northeast of Paris. Ms. Krishan, who had arrived at work 45 minutes late, is not paid if she does not make it in, she said.On the Rue des Archives in the Marais, Yateeha Krishan, a 27-year-old from Sri Lanka, had finished her morning shift cleaning offices and was wondering how to get home to her suburb northeast of Paris. Ms. Krishan, who had arrived at work 45 minutes late, is not paid if she does not make it in, she said.
The economic effect of the strike is already visible.The economic effect of the strike is already visible.
The pre-Christmas crowds on normally jam-packed shopping arteries like the Champs-Élysées are thin. And hotelkeepers complained of canceled bookings, empty rooms and a precipitous drop in revenues over the weekend in a city heavily dependent on tourism.The pre-Christmas crowds on normally jam-packed shopping arteries like the Champs-Élysées are thin. And hotelkeepers complained of canceled bookings, empty rooms and a precipitous drop in revenues over the weekend in a city heavily dependent on tourism.
Plays and operas were canceled. Paris Opera dancers are among those most strongly opposed to the pension overhaul, because they fear losing a special retirement program that takes into account the grueling physical requirements of their jobs.Plays and operas were canceled. Paris Opera dancers are among those most strongly opposed to the pension overhaul, because they fear losing a special retirement program that takes into account the grueling physical requirements of their jobs.
Dock workers in port cities like Rouen and Marseille were also protesting on Tuesday, several universities remained closed and strikers blocked seven of France’s eight oil refineries.Dock workers in port cities like Rouen and Marseille were also protesting on Tuesday, several universities remained closed and strikers blocked seven of France’s eight oil refineries.
The unions offered no regrets for the commuter and business woes, pointing to high levels of public support for the strike. The French appear more anxious over what they see as a threat to their retirements than over the effects of the strike.The unions offered no regrets for the commuter and business woes, pointing to high levels of public support for the strike. The French appear more anxious over what they see as a threat to their retirements than over the effects of the strike.
“Given the level of discontent, we have to remain mobilized,” Philippe Martinez, the secretary general of the far-left General Confederation of Labor, told reporters before the start of Tuesday’s march. He said, “The more numerous we are, the quicker the government will withdraw its project.”“Given the level of discontent, we have to remain mobilized,” Philippe Martinez, the secretary general of the far-left General Confederation of Labor, told reporters before the start of Tuesday’s march. He said, “The more numerous we are, the quicker the government will withdraw its project.”
In Parliament, Prime Minister Philippe merely reiterated the government’s goal: “To build a single unitary retirement system in France.”In Parliament, Prime Minister Philippe merely reiterated the government’s goal: “To build a single unitary retirement system in France.”
He added words that alarm many of his countrymen. “We’ve got to tell the French the truth,” he said, “and say it calmly: This is going to occur through a gradual lengthening of working life.”He added words that alarm many of his countrymen. “We’ve got to tell the French the truth,” he said, “and say it calmly: This is going to occur through a gradual lengthening of working life.”
The official retirement age in France is 62, already among the lowest in the industrialized world, but many retire even earlier.The official retirement age in France is 62, already among the lowest in the industrialized world, but many retire even earlier.
In a closed-door meeting before the parliamentary session, Mr. Philippe warned his party’s lawmakers that there would be “no magic announcements” that would suddenly stop the strikes.In a closed-door meeting before the parliamentary session, Mr. Philippe warned his party’s lawmakers that there would be “no magic announcements” that would suddenly stop the strikes.
In an op-ed article in Le Monde on Tuesday, four economists who helped Mr. Macron shape his economic platform during the 2017 electoral campaign urged him to reassure the French about the stability of the points-based pension system he is proposing. Under the proposed government plan, points accumulated during working life would be cashed in at retirement. Whether they could fluctuate in value is unknown.In an op-ed article in Le Monde on Tuesday, four economists who helped Mr. Macron shape his economic platform during the 2017 electoral campaign urged him to reassure the French about the stability of the points-based pension system he is proposing. Under the proposed government plan, points accumulated during working life would be cashed in at retirement. Whether they could fluctuate in value is unknown.
But the demonstrators and the hardest-line unions have no interest in a point system. They simply want to keep the current system, which Mr. Martinez has called “the best in the world.”But the demonstrators and the hardest-line unions have no interest in a point system. They simply want to keep the current system, which Mr. Martinez has called “the best in the world.”
The atmosphere at the marches Tuesday was generally peaceful, and sometimes even festive. The protests drew a broad coalition of transport and health care workers, teachers and students, all concerned about their retirement checks.The atmosphere at the marches Tuesday was generally peaceful, and sometimes even festive. The protests drew a broad coalition of transport and health care workers, teachers and students, all concerned about their retirement checks.
“There are whole professions that are extremely angry,” said Mourad Lafitte, a printers’ union worker, as the demonstration in Paris got underway outside the gold-domed church at Invalides, where Napoleon is buried. “Everybody has had it up to here.”“There are whole professions that are extremely angry,” said Mourad Lafitte, a printers’ union worker, as the demonstration in Paris got underway outside the gold-domed church at Invalides, where Napoleon is buried. “Everybody has had it up to here.”
Nearby, a hospital worker wore mock scrubs with the words “Macron, we want beds!” A “Revolutionary Left” stand distributing buttons and fliers was emblazoned with the slogan “Macron get lost!”Nearby, a hospital worker wore mock scrubs with the words “Macron, we want beds!” A “Revolutionary Left” stand distributing buttons and fliers was emblazoned with the slogan “Macron get lost!”
“The discontent is very deep,” said François Sikirdji, a retired music teacher. “Going on strike is not easy. I lost a third of my purchasing power when I retired.”“The discontent is very deep,” said François Sikirdji, a retired music teacher. “Going on strike is not easy. I lost a third of my purchasing power when I retired.”
Union sound trucks blared disconnected fragments of speeches by Mr. Macron against a thumping bass. Sinister images of the French leader, emerging from flames or brandishing pistols against the words “Our rights, burned and pillaged!” or “Macron, agent of the CAC 40” — the French equivalent of the Dow Jones average — were plastered on the vehicles.Union sound trucks blared disconnected fragments of speeches by Mr. Macron against a thumping bass. Sinister images of the French leader, emerging from flames or brandishing pistols against the words “Our rights, burned and pillaged!” or “Macron, agent of the CAC 40” — the French equivalent of the Dow Jones average — were plastered on the vehicles.
Sacks of baguettes to feed the protesters were piled on tables, and union workers cleaned a big electric grill. Lunch for the demonstrators would not be forgotten.Sacks of baguettes to feed the protesters were piled on tables, and union workers cleaned a big electric grill. Lunch for the demonstrators would not be forgotten.
And France has not completely shut down. Factories and businesses are running, cafes and restaurants are open, and public transportation in some cities is functioning almost normally.And France has not completely shut down. Factories and businesses are running, cafes and restaurants are open, and public transportation in some cities is functioning almost normally.
Daphné Anglès, Mélissa Godin and Elian Peltier contributed reporting.