This archive report was first published on 5 December 2019.
Published on December 5, 2019, a nationwide strike in France, called by unions in opposition to President Emmanuel Macron's plans to reform the country's retirement system, is expected to cause widespread disruptions to transportation and daily life.
Some 90 percent of high-speed trains have been cancelled, the Paris metro will be severely impacted, hundreds of flights have been cancelled, and the majority of schools will be closed.
Flag-carrier Air France has axed 30 percent of its internal flights and 15 percent of short-haul international routes, while British low-cost carrier EasyJet has cancelled 223 domestic and short-haul international flights and warned others risk being delayed.
The strike, which is open-ended and could last several days, has drawn comparisons with the struggle between government and unions in November-December 1995 when the country was paralysed for around three weeks.
Outcome Uncertain ¶
The strikes will be a major test of whether Macron has the political strength to push through his vision for reform, which includes a "universal" retirement system that would do away with 42 "special regimes" for sectors ranging from rail and energy workers to lawyers and Paris Opera employees.
Macron wants to implement a signature campaign promise that would see a "universal" retirement system, but unions say the changes would effectively require millions of private-sector workers to work beyond the legal retirement age of 62 if they want to receive the full pension they have been promised.
Transport Shutdown ¶
On the Paris metro, 11 of the city's 16 lines will shut down completely, with only the two fully automated lines running as normal. Rail operator SNCF said 90 percent of high-speed TGV trains as well as regional services across the country would be cancelled, while international routes like the Eurostar and Thalys would be severely disrupted.
Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said he expected 55 percent of teaching staff to strike nationwide, with 78 percent walking out in Paris, and just 30 percent of schools being able to open.
6,000 Police Deployed ¶
But unions say the changes would effectively require millions of private-sector workers to work beyond the legal retirement age of 62 if they want to receive the full pension they have been promised.
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who has acknowledged French workers will gradually work longer, is set to unveil details of the reform on December 12.
