French trade unions are heading for what is expected to be a decisive showdown with President Emmanuel Macron over pension reform, with massive strikes from Tuesday (Mar 7) aiming to bring the country “to a standstill”.
After five separate days of protests so far this year, this week’s stoppages herald a new phase in the battle between the centrist government and opponents of the changes, which includes an overwhelming majority of French voters.
“We always said that we would go into a higher gear if necessary,” the head of the influential hard-left CGT union, Philippe Martinez, told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper on Sunday. “It will be the case on Tuesday.”
More than 260 demonstrations are expected nationwide, many in small and medium-sized towns where opposition to the reform is strong, while strikes will affect transport, the energy sector and public services.
Police are expecting between 1.1-1.4 million people to hit the streets, a source told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The upper limit of that range would represent the biggest day of protests in decades, higher than the 1.27 million who took part in demonstrations on Jan 31, and bigger than previous pension reform protests in 2010.
Unions representing workers on the national SNCF railways, the Paris metro and the energy sector, including refineries, have called for rolling strikes for the first time, with other industries expected to join in.
All eight major French trade unions have called for the stoppages to bring the country “to a standstill” on Tuesday, with shopkeepers also encouraged to down shutters.
“The 7th (Tuesday) is going to be very difficult,” Transport Minister Clement Beaune admitted on Friday, calling on workers to stay home where possible.
Source: AFP
