More than a million people took part in demonstrations across France on Thursday, halting trains and cutting electricity production. The turnout was quite a large number, even by French standards, and more than the turnout at the first rally against previous pension reform in 2019. Pushing back the retirement age by two years and extending the pay-in period would bring an additional 17.7 billion euros ($19.1 billion) in annual pension contributions. Train drivers, teachers and refinery workers were among those who walked off their jobs. France Inter radio played music instead of its usual programming and bus drivers and civil servants also stopped work.
The pension reform still needs to go through parliament, where Macron has lost his absolute majority but is hoping to get it passed with the support of conservatives. In Paris, some metro stations were closed and traffic was seriously disrupted, with few trains running. A 2007 ban on wildcat walkouts and restrictions on strikes have limited unions’ ability to wear down governments’ reform ambitions. The fact that working from home is much more common since the pandemic could also have an impact. The strike halted ferry crossings between Dover and Calais, a major sea route for trade between Britain and the continent.
