December 4, 2019
Anna Murray
Workers at France’s national rail company SNCF and Paris’ regional transport authority RATP walked out together and started their strike at 10 pm local time on December 4. Meanwhile, air traffic controllers and Air France air and ground crews were also on strike. Ambulance drivers, hospital workers, firefighters, postal workers, and other public service staff were joining the strike. In addition, 3 teachers’ unions had notified the Ministry of Education of their strike. Most likely schools would be forced to closure accordingly. The police would hold all services in support of the strikes from 10 am to 3 pm. Lorry drivers announced to support the strike by blockading major roads across the country from December 7.
The strike is primarily targeted against the French government’s new pension reforms proposed by President Emmanuel Macron. President Macron proposes to merge the existing 42 different French retirement schemes into one simple system. The new system would threaten the benefits of many public service workers seeking early retirement.
At present, public sector workers have their pensions based on the salary earned for the last 6 months at work. The proposed new system will calculate every year’s salary into account. In comparison, the reforms will lead to a lower pension for many public service workers.
People working in the French railway system have the special pension status for “Cheminot” which is entitled to many privileges, even reduced train fares for themselves, their spouses, and their children. The proposed new system will deprive the “Cheminot” of French railway workers.
French workers were on strike against the French government’s pension reforms for three weeks in 1995 when former President Jacques Chirac tried to increase the age of retirement.
France has experienced the Gilet Jaunes (yellow vests) protests over a year and the new strike against pension reforms could impact more than the strike in 1995. Some predicted France would be stranded in a standstill and probably until Christmas. It could set a new record as the most comprehensive strike in decades.
Photo:Webshot.