- Title: New year brings no end to French rail strikes
- Date: 2nd January 2020
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (French) RS RATP UNION REPRESENTATIVE, LABIDI HANI, SAYING: "Since the first day, December 5, we have been calling for this reform to be withdrawn completely and today we're respecting the same line. The statement that he (Macron) has now made doesn't surprise us because we weren't expecting anything from him. He's a president who's full of himself who doesn't listen to the people. You have to bear in mind that Macron has to listen to the French people, it's not the French people who have to listen to Macron."
- Embargoed: 16th January 2020 10:43
- Keywords: Macron pensions reform pensions strike rail strike strike
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Lawmaking,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA005BUHBEPZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Strikes by French transport workers against government reforms to the pensions system continued into the new year entering their 29th day on Thursday (January 2), beating a previous record for a strike over consecutive days at rail company the SNCF set in 1986.
Only one in three highspeed TGV services and four in ten local TER services were set to run, according to the SNCF.
With cancellations announced at least a day in advance, most passengers at Montparnasse station in the south of Paris -- which provides mainline services to west and southwest France -- were aware of the modified timetables.
Many, including nurse Agnes Salvaudon en route to visit family on the French Caribbean island of Martinique, said they supported the strikers.
"The strike is necessary so that (French President Emmanuel) Macron and his government make an effort so that things can be evened out and made more equal for everyone," she said.
Making a new year's address on Tuesday (December 31), Macron said he expected the government to reach a compromise quickly with unions, but without departing from principles laid out by ministers, and junior economy minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher on Thursday called on unions to make proposals to break the deadlock.
Protesters blocking a bus depot in north Paris on Thursday showed no signs of giving up the fight.
"Since the first day, December 5, we have been calling for this reform to be withdrawn completely and today we're respecting that same line," said protester Labidi Hani.
(Production: Clotaire Achi, Antony Paone, Johnny Cotton) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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