French Workers Strike Against Macron's Plan to Raise Retirement Age

Strikes coordinated by French unions brought significant disruption to the country on Thursday as they protest against government plans to revamp the pension system and test president Emmanuel Macron’s ability to resist street pressure.

Workers in sectors including railways, schools and energy are taking part in the 24-hour strike against Macron’s plan to raise France’s minimum retirement age to 64 from 62. Unions are leading marches across France’s largest cities with the backing of left-wing political parties.

In a rare show of unity, France’s eight largest labor unions have coordinated efforts and the disruptions have prompted the government to urge people to work from home. Still, the success of the strikes is set to be at least partly measured by the scope of the street demonstrations. Both the CGT union and the head of the Communist party have set a goal of having at least 1 million people protest across France for what is likely to be just one of a series of actions.

“Come demonstrate your disapproval of this pension reform,” CFDT union leader Laurent Berger said on Thursday on BFM TV. “It’s massively rejected by public opinion; we need to show it.”

Macron’s decision to forge ahead with his reform comes at a difficult juncture for the French economy as it wrestles with power prices that soared last year and as inflation weighs on households and businesses. In an effort to build consensus, Macron has set the proposed minimum retirement age at 64, down from an initial plan to put it at 65, and government ministers have said that they are open to tweaks to the plan during parliamentary debates.

Some of Thursday’s largest disruptions were in transportation. Most high speed trains were canceled and an even smaller fraction of regional trains were in service. In Paris, most metro lines were only operating during rush hour and even then at less than half of regular levels. Airlines were ordered by the government body in charge of civil aviation to cut 20% of flights at Orly airport.

A walkout by staff at Electricite de France SA lowered the country’s nuclear output by 12% on Thursday, according to grid operator RTE, just as a cold snap is boosting electricity demand. Strikes are disrupting the delivery of fuels from three oil refineries operated by TotalEnergies SE, though the company said it would continue to supply its clients and filling stations. They are also hampering fuel loading at Exxon Mobil Corp.’s Fos refinery.

Some 42% of primary school teachers were on strike on Thursday, the education ministry said, along with nearly 35% of secondary school teachers.

The combined disruptions confirmed Transport Minister Clement Beaune’s warning of “a painful Thursday.”

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