France began a 12th day of cross-sector strikes Thursday to protest the government’s contested pension reform. Oil refinery workers walked off the job and protesters piled up rubbish bins in front of the Constitutional Council, which is expected to rule Friday on the legality of the legislation.
Protesters piled garbage cans in the street leading to the Constitutional Council, calling for the pension reform to be "put in the bin".
Striking rubbish collectors have become emblematic of the tussle against the reform, which unions say is profoundly unfair, primarily affecting low-income workers who start their careers early and have physically draining jobs.
Paris police chief Laurent Nunez said he would be prohibiting gatherings and demonstrations around the council on Friday, ahead of the council's decision.
In another unauthorised demonstration, nearly 400 rail workers holding banners and flares walked down the Champs Elysées after protesting in front of the nearby Louis Vuitton store and the headquarters of its parent company, the luxury conglomerate LVMH.
A week ago, in a similar action, protesters managed to enter the the headquarters of BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager.
'Not the end'
"This is certainly not the last day of strikes,” said the new head of the hardline CGT union, Sophie Binet in front of a blocked garbage incinerator in Ivry-sur-Seine south of Paris early Thursday.
While opinion polls show a majority of people still oppose the pension reform, which would increase the minimum retirement age to 64 years old, the three-month-long protest movement has lost some steam.
Only a few TGV train lines were disrupted Thursday, while the Paris metro was running almost as usual on most lines.
TotalEnergies oil refinery workers, who had ended a weeks-long strike earlier this week, walked off the job Thursday – about 20 percent of employees posted, according to the company.
About 4.5 percent of teachers were on strike, according to the Education Ministry – a drop from nearly 8 percent last week.
Crucial ruling
Unions are hoping the Constitutional Council’s pending decision will bring people out to protest marches organised in cities around the country.
The council is due to rule Friday afternoon on the constitutionality of the bill, and to approve or reject a call for a referendum on the retirement age.
The government hopes a ruling holding up the bill will put an end to protests, and President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday said he would meet with unions after the decision. Trade unions have largely been kept out of the reform process.
"The country must continue to move forward, work, and face the challenges that await us," Macron said.
(with wires)
