Macron pension reform: Paris paralysed by massive strike
The French capital is seeing huge jams and massive crowds on the few metro lines running as transport workers strike against planned France pension reform.
Ten of Paris’s 16 lines were shut and service on the others was disrupted.
Many workers cycled, walked or stayed at home, while free rides were on offer on transport operator RATP’s e-moped and Uber’s e-bike and scooter networks.
The strike, the biggest since 2007, is the first big act against President Macron’s plan for a universal pension.
It would replace dozens of different pension schemes for different professions.
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Members of other professions including lawyers, airline staff and medical workers have called for more strikes starting on Monday.
What is the situation in Paris?
There were 235km (145 miles) of traffic jams in the Paris region, officials said, more than double normal levels.
Local media showed photos of crammed platforms on four metro lines, where some trains were running.
#greveratp Pourquoi le service minimum ne sera pas assuré ce vendredihttps://t.co/BDGXN8j9ZD pic.twitter.com/OoWRVejgCz
— Le Parisien (@le_Parisien) September 12, 2019
Le Parisien newspaper said a legal requirement to maintain a minimum level of service – in place following a big strike in 2007, which was also against a pension overhaul – was not being fulfilled.
Three of the city’s five regional rail lines, run by national rail operator SNCF, were running as normal but the two other lines were offering a reduced rush hour service and no trains at all during the rest of the day. Full Story
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