France: Trains halted, schools shut as unions fight pension reforms

This is a critical time for the government, which is hoping the reform can be adopted by parliament by the end of March

France: Trains halted, schools shut as unions fight pension reforms

A woman walks past a deserted tramway stop in Strasbourg Tuesday. Pic/AFP

French unions stepped up their fight against President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform plans on Tuesday as most trains came to a halt, fuel deliveries were disrupted and schools shut on the sixth day of nationwide strikes. This is a critical time for the government, which is hoping the reform can be adopted by parliament by the end of March.

To increase pressure on lawmakers not to raise the pension age by two years to 64, unions said there would be rolling strikes this time, which could go on for days, including at oil refineries and railways. “We will continue until the reform is withdrawn,” the head of FO union, Frederic told RTL radio. Garbage collectors and truck drivers joined the strike, in a sign the protests were spreading to more sectors.

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Power production was reduced, fuel deliveries and refining were disrupted and many teachers walked off the job. Rallies are planned across France after more than 1.27 million people took part in previous protests on Jan. 31. There were reports of students blocking schools while BFM TV showed workers abandoning cars on the road near Amiens. “Together...let’s bring France to a halt!,” the country’s main unions said in a joint statement.

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