In a nationwide day of action, Charles de Gaulle airport was singled out, trains were disrupted, and certain schools were closed.
As part of a nationwide day of protests, French workers who are dissatisfied with the increase in the retirement age have impeded access to a terminal at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. The unions have intensified their pressure on the government to rescind the law, which postpones retirement by two years to 64, leading to disruptions in train services, school closures, and the accumulation of garbage on the streets. Furthermore, electricity output was reduced.
Burning piles of debris blocked traffic on a highway near Toulouse in southwest France, leading to plumes of smoke, while in other cities, wildcat strikes briefly obstructed roads. A spontaneous protest near Terminal 1 of the airport was confirmed not to affect flights, as stated by a spokesperson for Aéroports de Paris.
Protest rallies have been scheduled across France later on Thursday, and in addition to this, oil depots have been targeted, and a liquefied natural gas terminal in the northern city of Dunkirk has been blocked.
Despite growing anger, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday that the legislation, which his government pushed through parliament last week without a vote, would take effect by the end of the year.
“The most effective reaction we can have to the president is that there are millions of people striking and demonstrating,” stated Philippe Martinez, leader of the hardline General Confederation of Labour union.
Since January, rallies organized by unions have attracted enormous crowds, protesting against policy changes that also hasten the planned increase in the number of years required to work before being able to receive a full pension.
