France to implement pension reforms

The French government is “very determined” to push ahead with its pensions reforms, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on the second day of a crippling nationwide transport strike.

Philippe said the government would work with trade unions to introduce a single points-based pension scheme that would require the French to “work a bit longer” and replace dozens of more advantageous plans currently enjoyed by public sector workers.

But Philippe emphasised that the changes, which he said would be unveiled on Wednesday, were going to be introduced “progressively, without harshness.”

He insisted the change would be gradual and “not brutal.”

“I believe in social dialogue. I will never be in a logic of confrontation,” Philippe said after unions called for a new day of strikes and demonstrations against the government’s pension reform plans on Tuesday, Dec.10.

Commuters faced severe disruption getting to work on Friday, hospitals have been left understaffed and Paris City Hall said dozens of schools in the capital would stay closed, as unions dug in over President Emmanuel Macron’s plans to streamline one of the developed world’s most generous pension systems.

Transport workers went on strike on Thursday and took to the streets — joined by teachers, doctors, police, firemen and civil servants.

Smoke and tear gas swirled through parts of Paris and Nantes as protests turned violent.

Union leaders said public workers should maintain their industrial action until Tuesday, when they urged members to flood the streets once again.

“Unions will meet on Tuesday evening to decide on our next actions if by then Macron and (Prime Minister) Edouard Philippe have not reversed course and opened negotiations,” Catherine Perret of the hard-left CGT union told reporters.

“We’re going to protest for a week at least, and at the end of that week it’s the government that’s going to back down,” said 50-year-old Paris transport employee Patrick Dos Santos.

Macron’s pension tsar Jean-Paul Delevoye is due to hold talks with the unions on Monday before the prime minister presents the broad outlines of the proposal to the public mid-week.

Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said far-reaching reform was needed to put the generous pension system on a sustainable footing. Fewer teachers went on strike on Friday, education ministry data showed.

AgenciesThe French government is “very determined” to push ahead with its pensions reforms, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on the second day of a crippling nationwide transport strike.

Philippe said the government would work with trade unions to introduce a single points-based pension scheme that would require the French to “work a bit longer” and replace dozens of more advantageous plans currently enjoyed by public sector workers.

But Philippe emphasised that the changes, which he said would be unveiled on Wednesday, were going to be introduced “progressively, without harshness.”

He insisted the change would be gradual and “not brutal.”

“I believe in social dialogue. I will never be in a logic of confrontation,” Philippe said after unions called for a new day of strikes and demonstrations against the government’s pension reform plans on Tuesday, Dec.10.

Commuters faced severe disruption getting to work on Friday, hospitals have been left understaffed and Paris City Hall said dozens of schools in the capital would stay closed, as unions dug in over President Emmanuel Macron’s plans to streamline one of the developed world’s most generous pension systems.

Transport workers went on strike on Thursday and took to the streets — joined by teachers, doctors, police, firemen and civil servants.

Smoke and tear gas swirled through parts of Paris and Nantes as protests turned violent.

Union leaders said public workers should maintain their industrial action until Tuesday, when they urged members to flood the streets once again.

“Unions will meet on Tuesday evening to decide on our next actions if by then Macron and (Prime Minister) Edouard Philippe have not reversed course and opened negotiations,” Catherine Perret of the hard-left CGT union told reporters.

“We’re going to protest for a week at least, and at the end of that week it’s the government that’s going to back down,” said 50-year-old Paris transport employee Patrick Dos Santos.

Macron’s pension tsar Jean-Paul Delevoye is due to hold talks with the unions on Monday before the prime minister presents the broad outlines of the proposal to the public mid-week.

Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said far-reaching reform was needed to put the generous pension system on a sustainable footing. Fewer teachers went on strike on Friday, education ministry data showed.

Agencies