Mass strikes rock Paris, London
PARIS — The capitals of France and Britain were in turmoil as striking workers flooded the streets on Tuesday to protest changes in pension law and job losses as governments across Europe tighten their belts.
In Paris, more than one million workers marched against President Nicolas Sarkozy’s plan to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62, the centrepiece of his reform agenda.
Labour unions called for the showdown over the pensions bill, which Mr. Sarkozy insists he will push through as an “absolute priority” and which was presented to a stormy session in parliament even as the marches continued.
He told lawmakers from his majority Union pour un Mouvement Populaire party they must remain “firm” in raising the retirement age.
The Paris march was so large the marchers were forced to split into two parallel routes through the city.
In southern France, protesters braved heavy storms to turn out in large numbers, while in Paris and the north they marched in bright fall sunshine, in a cheerful mood with no reports of serious trouble.
Schools, the national rail network, some public services and domestic air services were severely disrupted. Passengers complained of long delays on commuter train services and the Métro in and around Paris.
Analysts said the large turnout — estimated by organizers at 2.5 million — would probably not be enough to secure much more than marginal concessions beyond the essentials of what many regard as the flagship of Mr. Sarkozy’s five-year term, which ends next year.
These are a rise to 62 from 60 in the legal minimum retirement age, and a rise to 67 from 65 in the age at which people are entitled to retire on a full pension — all part of a plan to balance the system’s finances by 2020.
“For the unions, today is a victory in terms of turnout,” said Jean-Francois Doridot of the opinion pollsters IPSOS.
The crowds also seized the opportunity to vent anger at Mr. Sarkozy’s government, mired in scandal and accused of victimizing immigrants.
Much of the scorn targeted Eric Woerth, the minister entrusted with the pensions legislation. He is under attack for allegedly accepting illegal campaign donations for Mr. Sarkozy from Liliane Bettencourt, the L’Oréal heiress and France’s richest woman.
“Mr. Woerth, I’m a pretty undesirable guy: will you give me the Legion of Honour?” read one banner, referring to allegations Mr. Woerth used his influence to secure the award for a man who employed his wife.
The man holding the sign, Jean-Pierre Moreux, a 69-year-old retired actor, described much of the political class as “corrupt.”
“They’ve taken advantage of the economic crisis to increase pressure on people,” he said.
“They’re breaking up the social model. Today it’s pensions, tomorrow it’ll be health.”
On the other side of the English Channel, millions of commuters struggled to get to work as a 24-hour strike by workers on London’s underground rail system crippled much of the network.
People took to bikes, buses, walked, or made use of extra boat services on the River Thames in a bid to beat the stoppage, called in protest to 800 job cuts.
Volunteers stationed at bus, Underground and railway stations handed out walking maps to passers-by.
Underground operator Transport for London said services were running on a number of Tube lines and plans put in place to beat the industrial action were working.
However, the Rail Maritime and Transport union said every Underground line was suspended or running a skeleton service after “rock solid” support for the walkouts in protest at staffing cuts.
Agence France-Presse, with files from Reuters