Paris, March 8 (BNA): A nationwide strike in France over a pension reform that has disrupted train services, closed schools and halted fuel deliveries is set to extend into Wednesday as unions seek to force the government to back down from unpopular policy. very popular.
Some 1.28 million people took to the streets on Tuesday in demonstrations across the country, the interior ministry said, making turnout for the day of protest — the sixth against reform this year — the highest yet.
This is a critical time for workers and the government, as French President Emmanuel Macron hopes that parliament will adopt his plan to raise the retirement age to 64 before April.
France’s hardline unions, looking to increase pressure on lawmakers, said there would be ongoing strikes that could last for days, at least in some sectors including Total Energy’s oil refineries.
Transport companies SNCF and RATP said trains would see disruptions again on Wednesday, as would the Paris metro system, albeit slightly less than on Tuesday.
The government said 10,000 protesters turned out nationwide on Tuesday, up from the previous peak of 1.27 million on Jan. 31. Media and local officials have reported larger crowds at rallies in some cities, including Marseille.
The strike also attracted more industrial sectors, and extended to truck drivers and garbage collectors. Local media quoted the CGT union as saying that 700,000 people marched in Paris. Police estimated the number at 81,000.
FKN