France faces new wave of strikes

2010-09-23 09:17:37

French workers march over pension reforms in Paris, 7 September 2010 More than one million workers marched on 7 September - unions hope the turnout will be even higher this time

French unions are holding another day of strikes and street protests against President Nicolas Sarkozy's plans to overhaul pensions and raise the retirement age from 60 to 62.

More than 230 demonstrations are planned, and disruption to rail, air and urban transport has already begun.

Organisers are hoping to better the turnout on 7 September, when more than one million workers took part.

Mr Sarkozy says the reforms are needed to tackle France's budget deficit.

The walkouts are expected to hit public transport the hardest. Disruptions to services began on Wednesday night and nationally, only one in two trains will be running.

About half the flights at Orly airport outside Paris are to be cancelled, as well as 40% at the capital's Charles de Gaulle airport, and 40% at other airports throughout the country, said the DGAC civil aviation authority.

The BBC's Christian Fraser in Paris says both sides will be watching the size of this protest closely. There is a threat from some unions of open-ended action, and if that gains support it will certainly apply pressure to an already embattled president, our correspondent says.

'Unfair burden'

Mr Sarkozy, already under attack from the European Union for deporting some Roma people and from the media over a lingering financial scandal, says he will press on with the reforms regardless.

Retirement years

The pension reform bill has already been passed by France's lower house of parliament. It will be debated from 5 October by the upper house, the Senate, where it is expected to pass comfortably.

French workers can expect to spend more of their life in retirement than those in any other country, according to figures from the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development).

Under current rules, both men and women in France can retire at 60, providing they have paid social security contributions for 40.5 years - although they are not entitled to a full pension until they are 65.

The government says it will save 70bn euros ( 58bn) by raising the retirement age to 62 by 2018, the qualification to 41.5 years, and the pension age to 67.

Unions and opposition politicians say the plan puts an unfair burden on workers, particularly women, part-timers and the former unemployed who might struggle to hit the 41.5 year requirement.

They have made counter proposals, including calls for taxes on certain bonuses and on the highest incomes to help fund the pension system.