FRANCE: Train strikes kick off day of national protest against plans to hike the retirement age

Record ID: 338852

  • Title: FRANCE: Train strikes kick off day of national protest against plans to hike the retirement age
  • Date: 23rd September 2010
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (SEPTEMBER 23, 2010) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR ST LAZARE STATION IN PARIS CLOCK SHOWING 1900, START OF STRIKE COMMUTERS RUSHING OFF ESCALATORS (SOUNDBITE) (French) FEMALE COMMUTER SAYING: "It's going to be hard. (How are you set up for tomorrow) I'm going to leave early and leave late." (SOUNDBITE) (French) BRIGITTE, A COMMUTER SAYING: "Those who will suffer t
  • Embargoed: 8th October 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA55ISN91J79ASVU332TN3EVYEN
  • Story Text: Train strikes on Wednesday evening (September 22) kicked off what French unions say will be a massive day of protest against government plans to raise the minimum retirement age.
    As the seconds counted down to 1900 local time, 1700 GMT, commuters rushed to get their final trains home amid forecasts that up to half the country's high-speed and commuter trains face cancellation over the next 24 hours.
    The stoppages are the latest round in a bitter standoff between the government and unions, whose leaders accept the pension system needs reform but who accuse the government of going the wrong way about it.
    The government has so far refused to back down over its plan to increase the minimum retirement age -- the most contentious of a package of measures aimed at restoring one of Europe's more generousp pension system to financial equilibrium.
    The stoppages come ahead of nationwide demonstrations which unions hope will be joined by more than two million people.
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