Retirement age plans fuel strikes in France
Source: Agencies |
May 28, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
STRIKES across France delayed flights, closed schools and frustrated commuters yesterday as workers protested government plans to raise the retirement age past 60 - one of the lowest even in Europe.
President Nicolas Sarkozy says retiring so young is now untenable given growing life spans, but unions see his planned reforms to France's over-stretched pension system as yet another blow to Europe's cherished social model.
His government wants to raise the retirement age to 61 or 62 - reforms that have been under discussion since well before the current European debt crisis. Sarkozy has called them his main priority this year.
Some unions say France's pension budget shortfall could be reduced by raising workers' monthly contributions.
Germany recently raised its retirement age from 65 to 67 to offset an aging population. Many EU countries have 65 as the general retirement age.
To express their anger, French workers for the government and private companies from Nestle to oil giant Total walked off the job yesterday.
Striking train drivers reduced commuter traffic around Paris, although international train routes did not appear to be affected. Aviation authorities expected flights at Paris' Charles de Gaulle to be reduced by 10 percent and those at Orly airport by 30 percent because of the strikes.
About 14 percent of teachers nationwide were on strike, and about 8 percent of hospital workers.
President Nicolas Sarkozy says retiring so young is now untenable given growing life spans, but unions see his planned reforms to France's over-stretched pension system as yet another blow to Europe's cherished social model.
His government wants to raise the retirement age to 61 or 62 - reforms that have been under discussion since well before the current European debt crisis. Sarkozy has called them his main priority this year.
Some unions say France's pension budget shortfall could be reduced by raising workers' monthly contributions.
Germany recently raised its retirement age from 65 to 67 to offset an aging population. Many EU countries have 65 as the general retirement age.
To express their anger, French workers for the government and private companies from Nestle to oil giant Total walked off the job yesterday.
Striking train drivers reduced commuter traffic around Paris, although international train routes did not appear to be affected. Aviation authorities expected flights at Paris' Charles de Gaulle to be reduced by 10 percent and those at Orly airport by 30 percent because of the strikes.
About 14 percent of teachers nationwide were on strike, and about 8 percent of hospital workers.
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