Pensioners go on hunger strike

A TRIO of pensioners in Avenières, Isère, have entered the eighth day of their hunger strike in a protest over pension rights.

Michel and Micheline Hilt and Albert Rivier, who are all members of the French Association for the Defence of the destitute pensioners (AFDRM), began their protest on June 26 at the town’s Place du Monument.

They want a basic, liveable, minimum pension for older people, and want their rights to be recalculated, taking into account factors including military service.

Although weak, the trio are determined to continue their demonstration. More than 500 others have signed a petition denouncing the amount of money pensioners receive every month.

An estimated 1.5million French pensioners live on less than €960 a month, or less than €31 a day.

In comparison, a room in a nursing home costs an average of €1857 a month, La Tribune reported last year.

Picture: France 3 Alpes screengrab