French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe defies striking workers with plans for a pension overhaul. Trade unions pledge more strikes, with one union leader calling the plan ‘a joke’
PARIS - France’s prime minister said on Wednesday its people should work two years longer to get a full pension, drawing a hostile response from trade unions who said they would step up strike action to force an about-turn.
The reform-minded CFDT union, which has hitherto stayed out of the strikes, said a “red line” had been crossed and that it was calling on members to join mass protests on Dec. 17. He showed some flexibility to unions over the timing, saying anyone within 17 years of retirement would be exempt - a longer period than the five years initially envisaged.Reform of France’s pension system, which offers some of the most generous benefits in the industrialized world, has proven a treacherous task for past and present governments.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe unveils the details of a pensions reform plan before the CESE in Paris, France December 11, 2019. Thomas Samson/Pool via REUTERSThe hard-left CGT union accused the prime minister of turning a deaf ear to the strikers. The strongest opposition to the planned reform has come from workers with ‘special benefit’ plans, including rail employees, dockers and Paris Opera singers who are entitled to retire on a full pension years before the average retirement age of 62.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
French workers take pension fight back to the streetStrikes against French president Macron’s pension reform plans shut schools and caused transport chaos around the country, though the number of people taking part seemed to have dropped off from last week
Read more »
339,000 protesters ramp up pressure on French President Macron over pensions reformHundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets across France for the sixth day straight to strike against pension reforms proposed by Pres. Emmanuel Macron.
Read more »
French protesters take to streets over pension reform but numbers dwindleTeachers, doctors, railway workers and other public sector employees marched peacefully through cities across France to demonstrate against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform plans
Read more »
Macron Grapples With Showdown Over French Pensions After Days of ProtestsAn overhaul of the pension system—particularly entitlements owed to France’s robust public sector—is central to the president’s campaign of transforming the nation’s economy.
Read more »
French pension reform to impact people entering job market from 2022: BFMThe French government's pension reform plan will fully apply to people ente...
Read more »