Hundreds of pension protests in France

Nearly 300 protests were held in France in order to put a strong pressure on the French government to abandon the pension reform. The reform would raise the retirement age from 60 to 62. Hundreds of pension protests in France The country-wide protests, according to the unions, were attended by 2.9 million people, while the police stated less than 900,000 people took part in the rallies. The government, however, claims that the pension system would collapse if the reform failed to be implemented, and that people have to work longer because the average life span is longer. Tens of thousands of participants in the Paris protests, wearing a union flag, went towards the square where the Bastille prison, one of the landmarks of the 1789 Revolution, used to stand. These protests, in contrast to those held in September, are not accompanied with strikes in the public sector. Dockers in Marseilles, however, blocked the port, and 39 ships laden with oil, chemicals and other goods, remained at sea, waiting to enter the harbor. "This is the only country where such an important reform did not include the main trade unions and the main opposition political parties. I think the president should recast these reforms that are unfair and do not solve anything," said Martine Aubry from the Socialist Party. Trade unions have scheduled protests for Saturday instead a weekday in the hope that they would attract families, students and employees in the private sector who are absent from the protests held on weekdays. "Rising support in the nation shows that the government must take this last chance to finally offer a true, just reform," union representative Francois Chereque said. The pension reform bill has already been passed by the lower house of parliament and will be examined from October 5 by the upper house. Unions announce another rally for October 12.

Hundreds of pension protests in France

The country-wide protests, according to the unions, were attended by 2.9 million people, while the police stated less than 900,000 people took part in the rallies.

The government, however, claims that the pension system would collapse if the reform failed to be implemented, and that people have to work longer because the average life span is longer.

Tens of thousands of participants in the Paris protests, wearing a union flag, went towards the square where the Bastille prison, one of the landmarks of the 1789 Revolution, used to stand.

These protests, in contrast to those held in September, are not accompanied with strikes in the public sector.

Dockers in Marseilles, however, blocked the port, and 39 ships laden with oil, chemicals and other goods, remained at sea, waiting to enter the harbor.

"This is the only country where such an important reform did not include the main trade unions and the main opposition political parties. I think the president should recast these reforms that are unfair and do not solve anything," said Martine Aubry from the Socialist Party.

Trade unions have scheduled protests for Saturday instead a weekday in the hope that they would attract families, students and employees in the private sector who are absent from the protests held on weekdays.

"Rising support in the nation shows that the government must take this last chance to finally offer a true, just reform," union representative Francois Chereque said.

The pension reform bill has already been passed by the lower house of parliament and will be examined from October 5 by the upper house.

Unions announce another rally for October 12.