The pension reform is considered one of the spearheads of French President Emmanuel Macron. The government wants to gradually increase the retirement age from 62 to 64 years. The unions consider the plans unjust and brutal and intend to vigorously oppose the reform.
“If Macron wants to make this the mother of his reforms (…) it will become the mother of all battles for us,” declared Frédéric Souillot of the FO (‘Force Ouvrière’), which, together with the other trade unions and a much of the opposition opposed the reform.
Tuesday’s action day was already the third day of action. The two previous ones took place on January 19 and January 31. Another protest is planned for Saturday.