Riot police fire tear gas as French cities gripped by violence
RIOT police fired tear gas in Paris and other French cities at demonstrators who set cars on fire and smashed windows during nationwide strikes and street protests against Emmanuel Macron’s labour reforms.
Hundreds of train journeys and flights to and from airports were cancelled and scores of schools were closed in the first protest against the centrist French president that has brought together blue and white collar employees.
Civil servants want better pay and oppose the planned loss of 120,000 jobs by 2022, while employees of the heavily indebted state-run SNCF rail company are fighting government plans to scrap job-for-life guarantees and automatic annual pay rises.
Just under 200,000 demonstrators took to the streets in Paris and in more than 150 other cities and towns, according to French media, although the hardline CGT union put the figure at 400,000.
About one in 10 civil servants took part, down from 13 per cent in an October strike against labour reform, which government sources said was a sign that the unions, who for decades were able to paralyse the country with their protests, may be struggling to gain popular support.
The battle against reform last autumn led to a series of protests, but the numbers taking part grew smaller every time and eventually the reforms went through. But rail workers turned out in far greater numbers for the latest protests yesterday, grounding 60 per cent of high-speed TGV trains and 75 per cent of intercity trains.
The Metro ran normally in the capital but there was severe disruption for commuters on suburban lines.
The actions are a likely prelude to three months of rolling strikes threatened by the unions if the government stands firm.
Rail unions are particularly aggrieved at the changes, which include a reduction in retirement age and the cutting of traditional perks such as discounted or free travel for family members.
Striking air controllers forced the cancellation of around 30 per cent of flights to and from Paris airports yesterday.
“We’re here against the government, which is only helping the rich. What this government is doing is simply not OK,” said Françoise Rauch, a 65-year old pensioner and a former SNCF employee marching in Paris, who added he was also protesting against increases in taxes on pensions.
The majority of the protests were peaceful, but scuffles took place between riot police and hooded protesters in Paris, where at least one car was burned and many shop windows smashed. Similar incidents occurred in Nantes, 200 miles south west of the capital. Security forces in both cities used tear gas and water cannon to try to disperse the troublemakers.
Opinion polls show a great number of French citizens back the protests but an even larger number appear to want the reforms – which for the civil service also include bringing in meritbased pay – to go ahead as planned.
“We agree that we need to make changes to public services, but not to restrain them. To improve them. We need more public servants,” Philippe Martinez, secretary general of the CGT union, told French radio last night.
SNCF unions have already said they will hold a series of strikes in April, May and June if the government does not back down on its plans for the rail company’s workers.
In a separate dispute, Air France said it could only ensure about 75 per cent of its medium and long-haul flights would take off today because of a union strike over its pay demands.
‘What this government is doing is not OK’