Huge numbers of workers struck and demonstrated across France on Thursday against the government’s attempt to increase the pension age by two years. Around 400,000 marched in Paris, according to unions.

Nearly all local and regional train services stopped, buses and trains in cities such as Paris were “very disrupted” and high-speed train lines across the country were not running. The main teachers’ union said 70 percent of primary school teachers were on strike, with many schools closing for the day.

Strikes heavily disrupted public service radio and television which were reduced to playing music or showing repeats. Many theatres were closed. Pickets blocked some refineries and energy workers’ action cut power supplies. Some school students blockaded their schools, and were met by cops wielding tear gas sprays.

On picket lines and protests the slogan “Metro-Boulot-Caveau” was common. It says the pension changes mean “Travel to work, slog away—and then the grave”. Workers feel a mixture of bitter anger and fear over being forced to work until they drop.

Dominique, a retail supervisor told France 24 news, “I have worked in retail for 30 years. I’ve already had surgery on both shoulders to deal with tendonitis caused by all the repetitive movements and heavy loads.”

“I’ve also had to get prosthetic thumbs on both hands. I’ve lost my joints from ripping and tearing boxes to put on shelves. So if I end up being told I’ll have to delay my retirement. I won’t be able to accept it. I’ve never gone on a protest or gone on strike in my life–but this time we’re coming up against something really unpalatable. If you ask too much of people, it just becomes unbearable for them.”

The proposed change to pensions from president Emmanuel Macron and his government is a big issue itself. But it also sums up the assaults workers everywhere and of all ages now face.

Strikers and their supporters joined around 220 demonstrations across France, with over two million taking part in total according to the CGT union federation. Even the official state rallies recorded well over a million on the streets.

Unions said up to 400,000 marched in Paris, 25,000 in Le Havre, 110,000 in Marseille, 50,000 in Toulouse, 40,000 in Saint Etienne, 12,000 in Montpelier, 38,000 in Lyon, 12,000 in Pau and 20,000 in Nice.

In many cities the figures are higher than those of the great strikes of 1995, which broke a government.

The demos showed that the walkouts spread far beyond the core of public sector workers. In the northern city of Valenciennes, the march of 6,000 included car plant strikers from Peugeot and Toyota as well as council workers, teachers and students.

In Lyon, most of the march was made up of firefighters, health workers, teachers and council workers. But there were also big delegations from Total (oil), Solvay (chemicals), Renault Trucks, building workers and Castorama (DIY retailers).

In Le Havre as well as port workers, teachers, and hospital workers there were groups from Sidel (Packaging), Safran (aero and rocket engines), Auchan (supermarket), Yara (chemicals), Chevron (oil), Foure Lagadec (boiler makers), Nestlé (food) and other.

LGBT+ groups, feminist campaigners, climate activists, anti-racist groups and undocumented workers joined the Paris demonstration. The Marche des Solidarités campaign group tweeted, “French people and migrants, same Macron, same fight! We can no longer go back. We must defeat this government. Fight the attacks on our pensions and against the new immigration law.”

Macron ran from France on Thursday by attending a French-Spanish summit in Barcelona to sign a Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation with Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez from the Labour type PSOE party.

But if the unions can be pushed to widen and extend the strikes he can be forced into another humiliating retreat. Union leaders have called another day of strikes and demonstrations on Tuesday 31 January–although many activists are angry they didn’t move quicker. There will also be some more limited actions on 23 January, the day the pension attacks are formally presented to the Council of Ministers (senior cabinet members).

In France and in Britain it is a time of crucial class battles.

Editor: Zhong Yao、Zheng Yifan

From: https://socialistworker.co.uk/international/mass-wave-of-resistance-sweeps-france/.（2023-1-19）