Following the "Yellow Vest Movement", France has ushered in a national cross-industry strike. France is known as the "Strike Capital of the World", and the people even took to the streets to demonstrate in disagreement. This general strike became the largest strike in France since 1995.
According to media reports on December 6th, on the 5th local time in France, a cross-industry strike resulted in the suspension of 90% of trains in the Paris region. In addition, 90% of high-speed rail and 80% of inter-provincial trains were cancelled. Traffic was directly paralyzed.
It is reported that the cross-industry strike in France is to protest President Macron's pension reform.
Police stations, hospitals, airports, railways, schools...People from all walks of life have joined the strike, and even the "yellow vest" has participated for the first time During the union protests.
The French Federation of Trade Unions claimed that more than 250 demonstrations were organized throughout the country, with about 1.5 million protesters participating. About 70 cities in France were "occupied" by demonstrators. At about 14:00 that day, about 250,000 people departed from Paris North Station, waving flags and shouting slogans, and walked all the way to the Place de la République and Place des Nations, until they "captured" Paris.
There was a conflict between the demonstrators and the police maintaining order. The police had to throw out tear gas to stop it. There were also demonstrators smashed and arson at the scene, and billowing smoke floated into the sky. The scene was chaotic.
French national survey shows that nearly 70% of the people across the country support the cross-industry strike, and the age of supporters is generally concentrated between 18 and 34 years old. Approximately 55% of teachers in France suspended classes and went on strike to participate in the demonstrations, which directly affected 70% of schools across the country. In Paris alone, more than 300 schools were affected.
This cross-industry strike has become another headache for Macron after the "Yellow Vest Movement". It is reported that Macron’s pension reform will raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. If anyone retires early, the corresponding points will be deducted.
This means that either the retirement age is getting later and later, or the money for early retirement is getting less and less.
As mentioned earlier, this cross-industry strike is the largest strike in France since 1995. It is worth mentioning that the strike in 1995 was also due to pension reform.
In 1995, the then French President Chirac proposed pension reform, and the French people who "don't buy it" went directly to the streets to protest. According to BBC reports, about 2 million people took to the streets to go on strike, which lasted three weeks and completely paralyzed French traffic. Eventually, the government had to abandon the reform plan.
In another half month Christmas is here, and many unions have stated that the strike is not just one day, and when will Macron give up reforms and they will stop.
And the Paris Volkswagen Transport Company union even stated that the strike was extended to at least the 9th. The union members said: "We are ready to fight until Christmas."
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