French strike over pension reforms enters fifth day

PARIS: France’s transport chaos deepened on Monday on the fifth day of a nationwide strike over pension reforms, ramping up tensions at the start of a crucial week i n P r e s i d e n t Emmanuel Macron’s battle with trade unions.

With only two of the Paris metro’s 16 lines running as normal and suburban trains also heavily disrupted, many commuters slipped behind the wheel to try to get to work in torrential rain, causing major gridlock.

This week will test public support for the strike. A poll on Sunday in the Journal du Dimanche newspaper showed 53% of the French supporting the strike or expressing sympathy for their demands, up six points in a week.

Unions have called a second day of mass protests for Tuesday, a day before the government unveils the full details of its plans for a single points-based pension scheme that does away with dozens of more advantageous plans enjoyed by train drivers, sailors, lawyers and other professions.

Teachers are expected to walk out again for the second time in a week on Tuesday.

The government’s pensions envoy Jean-paul Delevoye, who drafted the reforms, and Health Minister Agnes Buzyn will meet with trade unions on Monday to try to negotiate an end to the deadlock.

But the unions have sounded an uncompromising note.

“I will not negotiate over the i mplementation of what I describe as a monstrosity which endangers tomorrow’s pensioners,” said Yves Veyrier, the head of the militant Force Ouvriere union. AFP