Civil aviation authority urges companies to cancel up to 30% of flights planned March 9, 10
Women protested the government’s pension reform plan across France on International Women’s Day, after thousands of workers objected to the proposal the day before.
As workers in some sectors, particularly public transportation, decided to remain on strike, Transport Minister Clement Beaune told the LCI broadcaster that traffic disruptions would continue until Friday.
Tuesday and Wednesday, some electricity workers deliberately cut power, eliciting an angry response from the government.
According to government spokesperson Olivier Veran, the action is illegal and is not the same as a walkout or a demonstration. He also condemned the vandalism that occurred during Tuesday’s protests.
According to Le Figaro, the French Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGAC) has urged companies to cancel up to 30% of flights scheduled for March 9 and 10 because much of the airport staff will be on strike, severely disrupting air traffic.
Senator Stephane Le Rudulier of the Republican party (Les Republicains) criticized the strike culture in France, expressing concern about potential risks in the energy sector and saying he proposed a draft bill to limit the right to strike at oil refineries, according to Le Figaro.
Nationwide protests were held Tuesday in Paris and other cities for the sixth time since January after the plan sparked public outrage when it was announced last year.
In a Twitter statement, trade unions announced new mobilization days for March 11 and 15.
Workers at the national railway company SNCF, as well as those at the Parisian regional transport operator RATP, have decided to extend their strike to Wednesday.
Workers at oil refineries also went on strike, preventing fuel from being delivered to stations.
According to media reports, young groups will gather on Thursday, while trade unions have asked to be “received urgently” by President Emmanuel Macron.
The reform plans have sparked public outrage because they include raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 in 2030 and requiring at least 43 years of work to be eligible for full pensions.
