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[SIZE="4"]French unions strike against pension age rise[/SIZE]
By Ben Hall in Paris
Published: June 24 2010 14:48 | Last updated: June 24 2010 14:48
Transport and public services in France were disrupted on Thursday as trade unions organised their biggest strike in a year in protest against government plans to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62.
A third of all school teachers stopped work, forcing some schools to close. Two-fifths of train drivers went on strike, triggering the cancellation of half the country’s high-speed and regional train services. Paris metro and suburban rail services were also disrupted but cross-Channel Eurostar trains were operating normally.
Airlines were expected to drop 15 per cent of flights in and out of the capital’s Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports. Air France said 17 per cent of its short- and medium-haul flights would be cancelled but that its long-haul flights would not be disrupted.
Union organisers planned 200 demonstrations across France. Bernard Thibault, leader of the powerful CGT union, estimated turnout at 1m-2m. “It is up to the president to respond,” he said.
The government announced bold plans this month to eliminate the deficit in the pension system by raising the retirement age, upping contributions by public sector workers and increasing taxes on business and the wealthy.
The day of strikes and protests are a test of the unions’ capacity to mobilise public opposition to pensions reforms, a challenge made more difficult by the approaching summer holidays.
An opinion poll published on Thursday found that 68 per cent of those asked either supported or sympathised with the strike.
Initial estimates indicated that the strike was more widespread than previous protests this year but not as large as the demonstrations in 2009 against the government’s handling of the economic crisis.
President Nicolas Sarkozy will draw comfort from the fact that the disruption was nowhere near as serious as that caused by a prolonged strike in 2007 when the government scaled back special pension privileges enjoyed by some public sector workers.
Thursday’s industrial action was also a far cry from the three-week strike against pension reforms that paralysed the country in 1995, forcing the then centre-right government of Alain Juppé to back down, destroying his political authority.
However, Thursday’s strike was a foretaste of further protests in the autumn when the unions and the Socialist party are expected to step up their opposition to pension reforms when the legislation comes before parliament.
Strike warnings were issued in many of France’s largest companies, but turnout in the private sector is expected to be much lower than in the public sector, where the unions remain powerful.
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. You may share using our article tools. Please don't cut articles from FT.com and redistribute by email or post to the web.
[SIZE="4"]French unions strike against pension age rise[/SIZE]
By Ben Hall in Paris
Published: June 24 2010 14:48 | Last updated: June 24 2010 14:48
Transport and public services in France were disrupted on Thursday as trade unions organised their biggest strike in a year in protest against government plans to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62.
A third of all school teachers stopped work, forcing some schools to close. Two-fifths of train drivers went on strike, triggering the cancellation of half the country’s high-speed and regional train services. Paris metro and suburban rail services were also disrupted but cross-Channel Eurostar trains were operating normally.
Airlines were expected to drop 15 per cent of flights in and out of the capital’s Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports. Air France said 17 per cent of its short- and medium-haul flights would be cancelled but that its long-haul flights would not be disrupted.
Union organisers planned 200 demonstrations across France. Bernard Thibault, leader of the powerful CGT union, estimated turnout at 1m-2m. “It is up to the president to respond,” he said.
The government announced bold plans this month to eliminate the deficit in the pension system by raising the retirement age, upping contributions by public sector workers and increasing taxes on business and the wealthy.
The day of strikes and protests are a test of the unions’ capacity to mobilise public opposition to pensions reforms, a challenge made more difficult by the approaching summer holidays.
An opinion poll published on Thursday found that 68 per cent of those asked either supported or sympathised with the strike.
Initial estimates indicated that the strike was more widespread than previous protests this year but not as large as the demonstrations in 2009 against the government’s handling of the economic crisis.
President Nicolas Sarkozy will draw comfort from the fact that the disruption was nowhere near as serious as that caused by a prolonged strike in 2007 when the government scaled back special pension privileges enjoyed by some public sector workers.
Thursday’s industrial action was also a far cry from the three-week strike against pension reforms that paralysed the country in 1995, forcing the then centre-right government of Alain Juppé to back down, destroying his political authority.
However, Thursday’s strike was a foretaste of further protests in the autumn when the unions and the Socialist party are expected to step up their opposition to pension reforms when the legislation comes before parliament.
Strike warnings were issued in many of France’s largest companies, but turnout in the private sector is expected to be much lower than in the public sector, where the unions remain powerful.
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2010. You may share using our article tools. Please don't cut articles from FT.com and redistribute by email or post to the web.
