Paris’ Gare de Lyon station train station was the scene of several hundred strikesrs who walked along railway tracks to stop trains moving. They brandished flares and chanted “And we will Go, and We Will Go Until Withdrawal” and “Macron!
Maxime Monin (46), said that this year, “maybe our holidays won’t be so great.” He also stressed that workers in public transport aren’t paid on strike days. It’s worth it, I believe.
Fabien Villedieu is a unionist from SUD-rail and said that the strike at France’s railway company SNCF was open-ended. “There are actions every single day in France, in all the big and small cities, with one to four protests. He said that there were one, two, three, or four blocksades. “What are we supposed to do to get the government to listen?”
A number of union members blocked a Pantin bus depot, stopping about 200 buses from leaving during rush hour in the northern suburbs.
Nadia Belhoum (48-year-old driver of a bus) participated in the protest and criticised Macron’s decision to make the retirement age higher.
She said, “The president of Republic…is not a King and he should listen his people.”
According to the Education Ministry, 24% of teachers in primary and secondary schools have left their jobs. High school teachers are 15%.
Last week, the French government invoked a provision in the Constitution to have the pension bill approved without approval from lawmakers. Before becoming law, the bill must be reviewed by France’s Constitutional Council.
On Monday, Macron’s government was able to survive two no-confidence votes from the lower chamber.
President Macron, a centrist 45-year-old, has repeatedly stated that he believes France’s retirement system must be changed to maintain its financial viability. Macron said that any other solution, such as higher taxes for the wealthy and companies, would be detrimental to the economy.
