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Unions Try to Bring France to a ‘Standstill’ Over Macron’s Retirement Plan Record Protests in France, as Anger over Macron’s Pension Plan Persists
(about 1 hour later)
PARIS — Idle trains, closed ports, empty schools, canceled flights, uncollected trash, shuttered refineries.PARIS — Idle trains, closed ports, empty schools, canceled flights, uncollected trash, shuttered refineries.
That was life in France on Tuesday as labor unions attempted to bring the country “to a standstill” and flooded streets in towns and cities around the country with marchers, protesting President Emmanuel Macron’s plans to raise the legal age of retirement to 64 from 62. That was life in France on Tuesday as labor unions attempted to bring the country “to a standstill” and flooded streets in towns and cities around the country with more than a million marchers, protesting President Emmanuel Macron’s plans to raise the legal age of retirement to 64 from 62.
After two months of an uneasy confrontation and five previous demonstrations that have unfurled across the country, neither side has shown any sign of backing down.After two months of an uneasy confrontation and five previous demonstrations that have unfurled across the country, neither side has shown any sign of backing down.
Many wonder if Tuesday will be the beginning of a reinvigorated movement that could force the government’s hand, or instead become a final yell of frustration — lingering in the air before fading, as Mr. Macron pushes through his change.Many wonder if Tuesday will be the beginning of a reinvigorated movement that could force the government’s hand, or instead become a final yell of frustration — lingering in the air before fading, as Mr. Macron pushes through his change.
“Will this be a turning point?” asked Chloé Morin, a political scientist and former adviser to two prime ministers. “Will either group manage to convince public opinion or not?” asked Chloé Morin, a political scientist and former adviser to two prime ministers. Between the government, the unions and protesters, she added, “you have 67 million French people who are watching this match.”
“Will either group manage to convince public opinion or not?” she said, adding between the government, the unions and protesters “you have 67 million French people who are watching this match.” Unions and authorities provided wildly different estimates of the number of marchers on Tuesday — a record 1.28 million, according to the Interior Ministry, versus a record 3.5 million for the unions, a gap large even for France, where discrepancies between their estimates are common.
Analysts say that Mr. Macron, facing the biggest social confrontation since his re-election last year, has backed himself into a corner by putting so much political stock into a change that few want or see as urgent. Now, failing to push the bill through could turn him into a lame duck president just a year into his second five-year term. Analysts say that Mr. Macron, facing the biggest social confrontation since his re-election last year, has backed himself into a corner by putting so much political stock into a change that few want or see as urgent. Failing to push the bill through could turn him into a lame-duck president just a year into his second five-year term.
On Tuesday, normally busy Parisian streets like the Champs-Élysées felt desolate, as the throngs of shoppers and tourists were unable to get across the city and office workers were stuck at home, sometimes with their idle children. Mr. Macron has stayed conspicuously out of the fray, saying little about the pension overhaul and leaving his government to defend it.
Only one in five trains were running on many national railway lines; the Paris Metro and regional express trains were heavily disrupted; some flights out of Paris’ main airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly, were canceled. “The president’s silence is a serious democratic problem that inevitably leads to a situation that could become explosive,” Patricia Drevon, of the Force Ouvrière labor union, said on Tuesday evening, reading from a joint statement that called for people to come out to two new protests — the first on Saturday — “even more massively to say no to this unfair and brutal reform.”
Workers at nuclear power plants lowered energy production; strikers walked out of refineries and stopped fuel and gas deliveries; in Paris, trash went uncollected in several neighborhoods and protesters blocked incinerators. On Tuesday, normally busy Parisian streets felt desolate, as the throngs of shoppers and tourists were unable to get across the city and office workers were stuck at home or out marching.
Only one in five trains were running on many national railway lines and some flights out of Paris’ main airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly, were canceled.
Strikers walked out of refineries and stopped fuel and gas deliveries; in Paris, trash went uncollected in several neighborhoods and protesters blocked incinerators.
Classrooms were also closed around the country, after roughly one-third of primary and secondary school teachers went on strike.Classrooms were also closed around the country, after roughly one-third of primary and secondary school teachers went on strike.
In a huge protest that swept around Paris’ Left Bank, crowds of teachers, transit workers and students chanted: “Macron, Scram,” and “Things will get serious.” In Paris and cities like Nantes or Rennes, a minority of violent protesters clashed sporadically with the police, who responded with tear gas or water cannons. Crowds of teachers, transit workers and students swept around Paris’ Left Bank on Tuesday afternoon, chanting: “Macron, Scram,” and “Things will get serious.” In Paris and cities like Nantes or Rennes, a minority of violent protesters clashed sporadically with the police.
“We are very determined to fight as long a we can,” said Roger Malot, 55, a bus driver holding out a money box in the hopes of amassing a “solidarity fund” for him and his colleagues during a possible “unlimited strike.” He added: “It is the only power we have, so we’ll keep pressing where it hurts until they withdraw their reform plan.” “We are very determined to fight as long as we can,” said Roger Malot, 55, a bus driver holding out a money box in the hopes of amassing a “solidarity fund” for him and his colleagues during a possible “unlimited strike.” He added: “It is the only power we have, so we’ll keep pressing where it hurts until they withdraw their reform plan.”
But despite experiencing rare unity and managing to rally over 1 million people in past protests, the unions have little to show for their actions. Some now want continuous strikes — especially in key sectors like energy and transportation, where some unions have already announced longer walkouts — which would ratchet up pressure on Mr. Macron but could turn public opinion against them. But despite experiencing rare unity and managing to rally over one million people in the street, the unions have little to show for their actions. Some now want continuous strikes — especially in key sectors like transportation, where some have already announced longer walkouts — which would ratchet up pressure on Mr. Macron but could turn public opinion against them.
“There is no room for negotiation anymore,” said Vincent Martigny, a professor of political science at the University of Nice. “That’s part of the problem: One of the two will lose.”“There is no room for negotiation anymore,” said Vincent Martigny, a professor of political science at the University of Nice. “That’s part of the problem: One of the two will lose.”
Changing France’s complex retirement system, among one of the most generous in Europe, is considered particularly difficult. Michel Rocard, a former Socialist prime minister, famously said that it was “enough to topple several governments.”Changing France’s complex retirement system, among one of the most generous in Europe, is considered particularly difficult. Michel Rocard, a former Socialist prime minister, famously said that it was “enough to topple several governments.”
Mr. Macron’s government says the retirement age needs to be pushed up to prevent long-term deficits caused by longer life expectancies and a rise in the number of pensioners. In France, today’s workers pay the pensions of current retirees.Mr. Macron’s government says the retirement age needs to be pushed up to prevent long-term deficits caused by longer life expectancies and a rise in the number of pensioners. In France, today’s workers pay the pensions of current retirees.
Mr. Macron was fuzzy on details but made raising the retirement age a cornerstone of his re-election campaign, and considers his win a public endorsement of the plan. But opponents argue that many in France voted for him not in support of his platform, but to block his far-right opponent, Marine Le Pen. Mr. Macron made raising the retirement age a cornerstone of his re-election campaign, and considers his win a public endorsement of the plan. But opponents argue that many voted for him not in support of his platform, but to block his far-right opponent, Marine Le Pen.
Mr. Macron vowed to take that into account for after his victory — part of a broad promise to govern with more collaboration and fewer dictates from above. Mr. Macron vowed to take that into account — part of a broad promise to govern with more collaboration and fewer dictates from above.
Union leaders accuse Mr. Macron of forgetting that promise and of ignoring public opinion, which remains resolutely opposed to the change. Recent polls found that roughly 60 percent of French people approved bringing France to halt. Union leaders accuse Mr. Macron of forgetting that promise and of ignoring public opinion, which remains resolutely opposed to the change, according to opinion polls.
“When there is this kind of protest, you have to stop and ask what is happening in the country,” Philippe Martinez, the head of France’s second largest union, the CGT, told reporters at the protest on Tuesday. “The president isn’t doing that.”
The government has made small concessions, like extending exemptions for those who started work at a young age. But those were mostly offered as carrots to garner conservative Republican Party support.The government has made small concessions, like extending exemptions for those who started work at a young age. But those were mostly offered as carrots to garner conservative Republican Party support.
With unions, the government has taken a harder line.With unions, the government has taken a harder line.
“I respect the right to strike,” Gabriel Attal, the French budget minister, told reporters on Sunday. But, he added, “When I hear some say they want to bring the economy to its knees, it’s workers that they are going to bring to their knees.” “When you call for bringing the French economy to its knees, you are calling for companies, factories and workers to be brought to their knees, and I don’t think most French people want that,” Gabriel Attal, France’s budget minister, told lawmakers on Tuesday.
While France’s retirement system could face long-term deficits, it is in no immediate threat of bankruptcy, and unions and left-wing opponents accuse Mr. Macron of rejecting other ways of increasing funding for the system, including taxes on the wealthy. While France’s retirement system could face long-term deficits, it is in no immediate threat of bankruptcy, and unions and left-wing opponents accuse Mr. Macron of rejecting other ways of increasing funding, including taxes on the wealthy.
Last month, the pension bill was debated in France’s lower and more powerful house of Parliament, where the government used a special procedure to hasten the process, curtailing discussion. Lawmakers shouted, jeered and traded insults as opponents buried the bill in thousands of amendments in a show of rejection. Last month, the pension bill was debated in France’s lower and more powerful house of Parliament. It is now being examined by the Senate, the upper house.
The bill is currently being examined by the Senate, the upper house. Mr. Macron hopes to get it passed later this month. No one expects him to abandon the first big change of his new term. Mr. Macron hopes to get it passed later this month. No one expects him to abandon the first big change of his new term. “If he backs down now, that would be saying he gives up on governing for the next four years,” said Ms. Morin. “Today, his aim is for the long term, to be known in history as the president that reformed pensions and potentially reestablished an equilibrium in the system.”
“If he backs down now, that would be saying he gives up on governing for the next four years,” said Ms. Morin. “Today, his aim is for the long term, to be known in history as the president that reformed pensions and potentially reestablished an equilibrium in the system.”
But if Mr. Macron doesn’t bend, he risks cementing his image as “Jupiter,” who hurls down orders from above and takes counsel from few, analysts say.But if Mr. Macron doesn’t bend, he risks cementing his image as “Jupiter,” who hurls down orders from above and takes counsel from few, analysts say.
“In one way or another,” Mr. Martigny said, “I think it’s going to be quite hard for Macron to rebound.”“In one way or another,” Mr. Martigny said, “I think it’s going to be quite hard for Macron to rebound.”
The presidential election revealed widespread disengagement with politics. Turnout in the first round of voting was the lowest on record. If Mr. Macron’s government pushes through the pension overhaul despite its unpopularity, some analysts warn that disillusionment could deepen, pushing voters to the extremes for the next elections — although a long way off.The presidential election revealed widespread disengagement with politics. Turnout in the first round of voting was the lowest on record. If Mr. Macron’s government pushes through the pension overhaul despite its unpopularity, some analysts warn that disillusionment could deepen, pushing voters to the extremes for the next elections — although a long way off.
“Being the ones who opened the door of power to Marine Le Pen, that’s a real concern for them,” Ms. Morin said.“Being the ones who opened the door of power to Marine Le Pen, that’s a real concern for them,” Ms. Morin said.
Stakes are high for labor unions, too, as they consider their next steps. Their historical record is mixed: the government scrapped an increase to the retirement age in 1995 after prolonged strikes, but massive demonstrations in 2010 did not prevent another one, from 60 to 62.Stakes are high for labor unions, too, as they consider their next steps. Their historical record is mixed: the government scrapped an increase to the retirement age in 1995 after prolonged strikes, but massive demonstrations in 2010 did not prevent another one, from 60 to 62.
Dominique Andolfatto, a political science professor at the University of Bourgogne who studies unions, said they had played their cards well so far. They have not alienated the public and have been helped by the government’s confusing and sometimes contradictory statements. A rise in the minimum monthly pension, for instance, will benefit fewer workers than initially promised. Dominique Andolfatto, a political science professor at the University of Bourgogne who studies unions, said they had played their cards well so far, unlike the government, which bungled its presentation of a minimum monthly pension increase that will benefit fewer workers than initially promised.
But the mass demonstrations have also been predictable, Mr. Andolfatto said, arguing that only a new element — volatile student protests, or an uncontrollable Yellow Vest type movement — might change the government’s calculus.But the mass demonstrations have also been predictable, Mr. Andolfatto said, arguing that only a new element — volatile student protests, or an uncontrollable Yellow Vest type movement — might change the government’s calculus.
“If the movement remains in the unions’ hands, I’m not sure they will go very far,” Mr. Andolfatto said, adding that it was unclear whether they had enough in their coffers to sustain prolonged strikes during a time of high inflation.“If the movement remains in the unions’ hands, I’m not sure they will go very far,” Mr. Andolfatto said, adding that it was unclear whether they had enough in their coffers to sustain prolonged strikes during a time of high inflation.
“With the increase in food and energy prices, it is not so easy to convince people to go on strike for a long time,” he said. “With the increase in food and energy prices,” he said, “it is not so easy to convince people to go on strike for a long time.”
Tom Nouvian contributed reporting.Tom Nouvian contributed reporting.