PARIS (AP) — French labor leaders hope to bring greater than 1 million demonstrators again into the streets Tuesday in the newest clash of wills with the federal government over its plans to keep off France’s retirement age.
For either side, the nationwide strikes and protests are a crucial test. French President Emmanuel Macron’s government says it is set to push through his election pledge to reform France’s pension system. Labor unions and left-wing legislators fighting in parliament against Macron’s plans are counting on protesters to end up massively to strengthen their efforts to kill the bill.
A primary round of strikes and protests brought out between 1 million and a couple of million demonstrators earlier this month, including many tens of hundreds in Paris. Labor leaders are aiming to at the least match and even higher those numbers on Tuesday, with one other big demonstration planned Tuesday afternoon in Paris and shut to 250 others expected elsewhere.
Positions are hardening on either side as lawmakers begin locking horns in parliament over the federal government’s bill that might raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.
On Monday, Macron described the reform as “essential.” His prime minister, Elisabeth Borne, insisted this past weekend that raising the retirement age to 64 is “not negotiable.”
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Strikes and protesters intend to prove otherwise.
Rail operator SNCF warned of major network disruptions Tuesday due to strikes. It really helpful that passengers cancel or postpone trips and work remotely if possible.
Strikes also hit some schools and other sectors. Radio station France Inter played music as a substitute of its usual morning talk shows and apologized to its listeners because employees are striking.
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