Postal workers took to the streets in France yesterday as part of a nationwide strike to block ahigher retirement age and other reforms.
Up to one million French public sector employees marched in demonstrations across the country,according to unions, but police put the figure much lower, at about 400,000. About 12% of LaPoste’s 300,000 workers participated in the action, according to French media.
The nationwide strike “proves the determination of employees to oppose the government reform ofretirement regulations, the main objective of which is to satisfy the financial markets,” the CGTunion declared.
But French prime minister Francois Fillon had already stressed on Wednesday that the governmentwould press ahead with the retirement reform, which is due to raise the official retirement agefrom 60, despite the protests. The new retirement age would be between 61 and 63, according toreports. The official plan will be presented in June.
