top cx logo
cx logo
Explorearrow down
search icon

Crucial week in France's pension reform protests

Another day of mass protests planned for France, the day the draft bill is to be presented to the Council of Ministers

This is a crucial week for the pension reforms protests in France, leading up to the presentation of a draft bill to the Council of Ministers.

Unions have promised to up their opposition to the plans in the final few days, with ports, public transport and court services among the services disrupted ahead of another planned day of mass protests on Friday.

In a repeat of last week's port blockades, dock workers are set to down tools for what the CGT has termed a 72-hour 'dead ports' operation from January 22. Pickets will be maintained at in Dunkirk, Le Havre, Rouen, Nantes-Saint-Nazaire, La Rochelle, Bordeaux and Marseille.

Meanwhile, it may be slightly more difficult to withdraw cash from banks in some parts of the country, as Banque de France deliveries will be disrupted due to protests. Security guards and operators responsible for sorting banknotes were also on strike on 15 January at the La Courneuve cash centre (Seine-Saint-Denis) and the Vic-Le-Comte paper mill (Puy-de-Dôme).

Read more: Pension strikes: French PM offers concession on age

Rail services remain disrupted as they have since the first day of the protests on December 5, though SNCF has reported that TGV, TER and Thalys services were due to operate normally on Monday, while eight out of 10 Transilien and Intercité trains were running.

The pressure on public transport in the capital is also easing, RATP reported, after the Union nationale des syndicats autonomes (UNSA) voted to 'redirect' its protests away from the unlimited strikes 'to engage in another form of action'. All metro lines, except line 13, were running improved services on Monday.

In the courts, however, the Conseil national des barreaux, which represents France's 70,000 lawyers, has decided to renew its strike, which began in early January and has hit court operations nationwide.

Further protests are forecast from January 22 as unions across a number of professions plan action leading up to a seventh day of 'mass protests' on Friday, January 24, the day the Council of Ministers examines the draft pension reforms bill.

The last mass protest, on Thursday 16 January, brought together 187,000 demonstrators in France, including 23,000 in Paris, according to the Interior Ministry. The CGT reported that it had counted 250,000 demonstrators in the capital alone.

A count by the independent firm Occurrence for a pool of media outlets said that 28,000 people were on the streets of Paris.

Read more: Cost of France's six-week strike tops €1billion

Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France

Resident or second-home owner in France?
Benefit from our daily digest of headlines and how-to's to help you make the most of life in France
By joining the newsletter, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
See more popular articles
The Connexion Help Guides
featured helpguide
Healthcare in France*
Featured Help Guide
- Understand the French healthcare system, how you access it and how you are reimbursed - Useful if you are new to the French healthcare system or want a more in-depth understanding - Reader question and answer section Aimed at non-French nationals living here, the guide gives an overview of what you are (and are not) covered for. There is also information for second-home owners and regular visitors.
Get news, views and information from France