Reduced turnout at work reform protest

Based on police figures, some 16,000 people – 55,000 according to unions – marched against President Macron’s reforms of the Code Travail today, compared to 24,000 (60,000) on Tuesday last week.

The banners waved by the protestors had slogans such as “there’s going to be mayhem”, “angry rail workers” or “he who sows poverty reaps anger”, “Macron, puppet of the bosses” and “withdraw the Loi Travail”.

Protests of several thousand people were also organised in some regional cities, such as Nantes, Rennes, Quimper and Toulouse.

Another protest is planned on Saturday, organised by left-wing party La France Insoumise, to follow today’s led by the unions. Leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has promised to bring down the reform, which he has claimed is a “coup d’état on workers’ rights”.

The strikes are a test of President Macron’s overhaul of work laws, which were part of his election manifesto.

The government has refused to back down so far, saying people voted for change.