No studies, trains are disabled: Friday for the French pension protest

The unions have organized huge rallies across the state, showing no signs that they intend to withdraw their demands to repeal Macron's flagship reform.

No studies, trains are disabled: Friday for the French pension protest

France's public sector workers took to the streets across France today, responding to trade union calls for one of the country's biggest protests in decades. They protest against the pension reform plan promoted by President Emmanuel Macron.

The widespread strike, which is on its sixth day, has caused transport chaos to close dozens of schools in Paris, cancel 20% of flights and reduce refinery activity. The unions show no sign that they are about to retreat in a battle that could set Macron's presidency determined to simplify a system of more than 40 different pension plans that provide some of the world's most generous benefits.

"Yes, pension system reform is necessary, but it is not necessary to break it," said Philip Martinez, head of the hard-left CGT trade union for the France Public Broadcasting Network. "Macron's project is one for itself. Our solidarity.

The unions implored railroad workers, doctors, teachers and other public servants to step up pressure on Macron before his government discloses the plan details tomorrow.

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"We have to get rid of Macron." Paris strike as part of strike (Photo: Reuters)

Paris strike, part of national strike day and demonstrations against French government pension reform plans, December 5, 2019 (Photo: Reuters)

In Bordeaux and Marseille, thousands of protesters waved union flags and raised posters that read: "We must get rid of Macron." Demonstrations also take place in Bern, Lyon, Nantes and Paris. In the capital, police deployed along Champs-Elysees Boulevard and set up barricades on the streets leading to Macron's and his prime minister's offices.

The next few days will test Macron's ability to bring about the social and economic changes he says France needed to go through to deal with powers like China and the United States.

"What's at stake is far beyond changing the pension system," said Christopher Dambic, an economist at Saxo Bank in Paris. "For Emmanuel Macron, it is not to disdain the Old World, the institutions in which he defected during his election campaign, and to restore his ability to pass reform in the state.

If Macron fails to pass the reform, an independent pension committee estimates that the deficit will open to € 17 billion, which is 0.7% of GDP, by 2025.

A giant strike in France in protest of pension reform

One of the biggest that broke out in France since 1995. President Macron and President Putin (Photo: Reuters)

President of France and Russia Macron and Putin after the Normandy Forum Meeting, Paris, December 10, 2019 (Photo: Reuters)

Macron is aware of the public's opposition to raising the retirement age to 62, and one alternative is reducing benefits for those who quit working before age 64, and increasing them for those who choose to retire at a later age. One of the possible concessions is the pace of changes in the pension system.

The strike is one of the biggest strikes in France since 1995, when then-Prime Minister Alan Joppa was forced to abandon his pension system reform after weeks of industrial sector strikes. His government has never recovered from that loss.

Dambic, of Sasco Bank, estimates that as strikes approach Christmas, Macron will find it difficult to avoid material compromises. At the same time, unions will also be careful not to lose public support in the event of disruptions. According to a poll in the Journal du Dimanche, 53% of the public support the strike, for now.

"This strike cannot last forever because people are getting tired," said Jean-Francois Vincent, a pharmacist by profession. "Macron won't surrender because it will show he is weak, but he will make concessions."

"Can't last forever." Strike in Nice, part of National Strike Day (Photo: Reuters)

Nice strike in Nice, part of National Strike Day and demonstrations against French government pension reform plans, December 5, 2019 (Photo: Reuters)