A “black day” awaits due to mass strikes and protests that will be held across the country tomorrow against the controversial reform that envisages raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 in France.
According to the news in the French press, life will come to a standstill as the country’s largest unions, including the General Workers’ Union (CGT), have decided on a general strike tomorrow.
Almost all sectors, especially transportation, energy, health and education, will join the strike.
The official railway operator of the country, SNCF, warned that there will be major disruptions in train services, and transportation to some areas will stop completely during the day.
The country’s flag carrier airline, AirFrance, also announced that 2 out of 10 flights are canceled if emergencies are not taken into account.
While intelligence sources predict that nearly 1.5 million people will take to the streets across the country, especially in the capital, Paris, unions stated that the number will be even higher.
CALL FOR REMOTE WORK FROM THE MINISTER
Transport Minister Clement Beaune, in a statement on France 3 television, called for working remotely to reduce the negative impact of strikes, especially on the transport sector.
Beaune said: “It will be a real challenge for those who cannot work remotely. said.
On the other hand, extreme left party MP Louis Boyard called on high schools and universities to close schools and erect barricades in support of strikes and protests.
The French General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) also called on airline companies to postpone flights on March 7-8 and to cancel 20 percent of flights at Paris CDG Airport and 30 percent of those at other airports.
DGAC has announced that there will be disruptions in flight traffic at airports in Beauvais, Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Nantes, Marseille, Montpellier, Nice and Toulouse, as well as CDG and Orly in Paris.
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne announced on January 10 that the pension reform, which was among the election promises of President Emmanuel Macron, would be implemented.
Stating that in the country where the retirement age is 62, the legal retirement age will be gradually increased by 3 months each year and will be increased to 64 in 2030, and he said that in 2027, a 43-year premium payment requirement will be introduced in order to receive the full pension.
There have been multiple strikes and protests across the country since 19 January against the controversial reform.