Thousands of French public sector workers took to the streets yesterday as part of a nationwide strike in protest at Emmanuel Macron’s planned public sector reforms.
The walk-out meant 60% of fast trains, 75% of intercity trains and 30% of flights to and from Paris airports had to be cancelled. Around 13% of teachers walked off the job, forcing the closure of a large number of primary schools.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
There are two different sets of grievances behind the strike day, “both of which have the potential to cause a headache for the French government”, says The Guardian.
France’s 5.4 million state workers are angry over plans to cut the public sector by 120,000 workers by 2022, with unions accusing Macron of seeking to dismantle the state sector, and about the introduction of merit-based pay.
The coordinated day of action is the first widespread strike seen in France since President Macron came to power just under a year ago, on a promise to reform the country’s bloated public sector and shake up its antiquated labour laws.
However, “opinion polls show a paradox” says Reuters: a majority of voters back the strike but an even bigger majority back the reforms, including cutting the number of public sector workers and introducing merit-based pay.
“That has led the government, which overhauled labour laws last year and is crafting a series of other reforms to unemployment insurance and training, to say it will stand by its plans, while keeping a close eye on protests,” reports the news agency.
The danger, says CNN, “will come in the longer term if unions are able to persuade their members to stay home for longer, which could lead to wider economic repercussions”.
-
How historically accurate is House of Guinness?In the Spotlight The glossy Netflix show about the family behind the world-famous stout mixes fact with fiction
-
The week’s best photosIn Pictures A perching raven, a fearless climber, and more
-
Back to the future: Kids embrace ‘old school’ devicesUnder the radar From MP3s to sewing machines
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
The France-Indonesia push for an Israeli-Palestinian two-state solutionTalking Points Both countries have said a two-state solution is the way to end the Middle East conflict
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designationThe Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
