Today France is witnessing a new national day of demonstrations and strikes against government-sponsored pension reforms, protests that follow the massive demonstrations of January 19th.
The country’s eight main unions, led by the General Confederation of Trade Unions (CGT) and the French Democratic Trade Union Confederation (CFDT), called for mobilization with expectations of surpassing the number of participants, which was estimated at more than two 12 days ago Millions.
Unions unanimously oppose the proposed extension of the statutory retirement age from 62 to 64, which also contains highly questionable elements such as increasing the contribution period to 43 years from 2027 and the abolition of special pension schemes.
In addition to demonstrations planned in that capital and other cities across the country, unions have called a strike, with work disruptions that will severely impact public transport, education, the energy sector and public services, among others. . .
French state railway SNCF is planning a high-speed train (TGV) of three and a regional train of five for this Tuesday, while Paris public transport operator RATP announced it will be a day when traffic is “very disrupted” as most of the metro lines are only active at peak times.
For its part, the General Directorate of Civil Aviation has asked airlines to reduce a flight of five people at Paris-Orly airport in the face of the strike announced by air traffic controllers.
As for education, the largest primary education union, Snuipp-FSU, said half the teachers will go on strike.
Difficulties are also expected in the energy sector, as at least eight out of ten workers in the refineries and storage facilities of the oil company TotalEnergies are unemployed.
The political forces of the left support the mobilizations against a pension reform, which will be analyzed in the National Assembly starting next Monday.
Despite union pressure and general popular opposition to the project, the government polls say the reform is essential to ensure the balance of the pension system, given the alleged accumulation of deficits.
(taken from PL)