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French Strikers Angry About Pension Reform Cut Power to Homes, Companies

Reuters

   PARIS - France's warring trade unions on Wednesday defended their
   decision to cut power to thousands of homes, companies and even the
   Bank of France to force a weakened government to drop a wide-ranging
   pension reform.

   The power cuts added to a sense of chaos in the second week of
   nationwide strikes that have crippled transport, shut schools and
   brought more than half a million people onto the street against
   President Emmanuel Macron's reform.

   Asked on French radio whether the power cuts, illegal under French law,
   weren't a step too far, Philippe Martinez, the head of the hardline CGT
   union, said the cuts were necessary to force Macron to back down.

   "I understand these workers' anger," the mustachioed union leader said.
   "These are targeted cuts. You'll understand that spitting on the public
   service can make some of us angry."

   His remarks coincided with comments by Macron's office saying the
   president ruled out abandoning his reform plans but was keen to make
   improvements in talks with unions, ahead of a new day of talks between
   his prime minister and union leaders.

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