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French Unions Launch New Pension Reform Protests

   VOA News 28 October 2010
   A  man  looks  at  demonstrators marching during a protest in Paris as
   part  of the 7th day of actions against the pension reform law, 28 Oct
   2010

Photo: AP

   A  man  looks  at  demonstrators marching during a protest in Paris as
   part  of the 7th day of actions against the pension reform law, 28 Oct
   2010

   Unions  in  France  launched  new  strikes  Thursday against President
   Nicolas  Sarkozy's  pension  reform  plan, a day after the measure was
   approved by the country's parliament.
   The  protests  cut  flights  in  and out of France by 30 percent to 50
   percent,  and  disrupted  train  service as Paris braced for a massive
   rally  later  in the day. Union leaders called for a day of nationwide
   strikes  to  protest the plan to raise the minimum retirement age from
   60 to 62.
   The  Senate  approved the measure Tuesday, followed by the lower house
   of  parliament on Wednesday. President Sarkozy is expected to sign the
   bill into law by mid-November.
   The  new  law  also raises the age for full pension from 65 to 67. The
   reform plan sparked weeks of strikes and protests nationwide that have
   disrupted travel, closed schools and cut gas supplies.
   The  labor-led actions have cost the country up to $560 million a day.
   President  Sarkozy insisted, however, the measure is necessary to keep
   the pension system from going broke. Â
   In the southern port city of Marseille, trash collectors have returned
   to work, and workers at five of France's 12 oil refineries are back on
   the  job.  Strikers are still out at France's main Fos-Lavera oil hub.
   The  president  of  the  French  oil  industry association, Jean-Louis
   Schilansky,  though,  said  Wednesday  he expected fuel supplies to be
   back to normal in seven to eight days.
   Passage  of the pension legislation was seen as a crucial test for Mr.
   Sarkozy,  whose  popularity  has  plummeted  since he was elected. The
   latest  poll  showed  that  more than 70 percent of those surveyed are
   unhappy with his policies.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

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