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France protests: Longest strike in decades stuck in deadlock | France protests: Longest strike in decades stuck in deadlock |
(about 2 hours later) | |
France's transport strike against pension reform has entered its 29th day, making it the longest rail workers' strike since May 1968. | France's transport strike against pension reform has entered its 29th day, making it the longest rail workers' strike since May 1968. |
Industrial action against President Emmanuel Macron's planned pension reform has hit train services hardest. | Industrial action against President Emmanuel Macron's planned pension reform has hit train services hardest. |
The government says the changes are necessary to make the system fairer and more sustainable, but unions say workers will lose out. | The government says the changes are necessary to make the system fairer and more sustainable, but unions say workers will lose out. |
More talks are due to be held between unions and government on 7 January. | More talks are due to be held between unions and government on 7 January. |
In his New Year's Eve address on Tuesday, Mr Macron vowed not to back down on his plan to overhaul France's complex pension system that would require people to work longer. | In his New Year's Eve address on Tuesday, Mr Macron vowed not to back down on his plan to overhaul France's complex pension system that would require people to work longer. |
"It would be a betrayal of our children, their children after them, who would then have to pay the price for our giving up," he said. | "It would be a betrayal of our children, their children after them, who would then have to pay the price for our giving up," he said. |
Union leaders have called for a day of mass protests on 9 January. A new blockade of petrol facilities, including refineries, petrol terminals and depots, is also planned on 7 January for 96 hours until 10 January. | |
On Thursday, France's national rail operator SNCF said it expected up to half of high-speed trains to be cancelled; only one in four inter-city trains would be running, while regional rail services would also be badly affected with half of suburban trains cancelled and only a third of trains circulating in the Paris region. | On Thursday, France's national rail operator SNCF said it expected up to half of high-speed trains to be cancelled; only one in four inter-city trains would be running, while regional rail services would also be badly affected with half of suburban trains cancelled and only a third of trains circulating in the Paris region. |
Most lines on the Paris metro were expected to be open, although disruption was expected. | Most lines on the Paris metro were expected to be open, although disruption was expected. |
A poll carried out before Christmas showed the industrial action was still supported by the majority of the public. | A poll carried out before Christmas showed the industrial action was still supported by the majority of the public. |
Nationwide strikes against the plans have caused weeks of disruption. | Nationwide strikes against the plans have caused weeks of disruption. |
Many French people hoping to spend the holidays with family and friends found themselves stranded because of cancelled trains and gridlocked roads, while hundreds of flights were also cancelled. | Many French people hoping to spend the holidays with family and friends found themselves stranded because of cancelled trains and gridlocked roads, while hundreds of flights were also cancelled. |
It has been deemed the longest strike since May 1968, a period of civil unrest across the country. | It has been deemed the longest strike since May 1968, a period of civil unrest across the country. |
A general strike over pension reforms in France in 1995 also crippled the transport system for three weeks and drew massive popular support. In that instance, the government was forced into a U-turn. | A general strike over pension reforms in France in 1995 also crippled the transport system for three weeks and drew massive popular support. In that instance, the government was forced into a U-turn. |
What is the strike about? | What is the strike about? |
Workers are striking over Mr Macron's plans to replace France's 42 separate pension regimes with a universal points-based system. | Workers are striking over Mr Macron's plans to replace France's 42 separate pension regimes with a universal points-based system. |
Unions representing millions of staff in both the public and private sectors warn the move will remove the most advantageous pensions for a number of jobs and force people to work longer or face reduced payouts when they retire. | Unions representing millions of staff in both the public and private sectors warn the move will remove the most advantageous pensions for a number of jobs and force people to work longer or face reduced payouts when they retire. |
France raised the official retirement age in the past decade from 60 to 62, but it remains one of the lowest among rich countries - in the UK, for example, the retirement age for state pensions is 66 and is due to rise to at least 67. | France raised the official retirement age in the past decade from 60 to 62, but it remains one of the lowest among rich countries - in the UK, for example, the retirement age for state pensions is 66 and is due to rise to at least 67. |
In November, a report commissioned by French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe concluded that, under the existing system, the country's pension deficit could be as high as €17.2bn by 2025. | In November, a report commissioned by French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe concluded that, under the existing system, the country's pension deficit could be as high as €17.2bn by 2025. |
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