French unions call for new pension reform protests

French unions call for new pension reform protests

2010-11-09 10:18:08 GMT+7 (ICT)

PARIS (BNO NEWS) -- French trade unions on Monday called for a new set of nationwide protests against the recently-passed pension reform.

"The trade unions have decided to keep up the mobilization in unity with a day of national cross-profession mobilization on November 23," the CFDT, CGT, FSU, Solidaires, UNSA unions said in a statement.

The French pension reform was passed on October 27 after the National Assembly voted 336 in favor and 233 against. The reform increased the retirement age from 60 to 62 among other modifications.

In response, French trade unions along other organizations and society sectors participated in a series of nationwide protests last month that paralyzed the country and caused a severe fuel shortage nationwide.

However, the public support towards the protesters have decreased in recent times after strikers opened fuel storage and ports. French President Nicolas Sarkozy denied canceling or modifying his proposed reforms as he claimed were the best fro the damaged economy.

After the reform was passed, union leaders assured that the public demonstrations will continue. the latest one took place last Saturday but participation decreased to about a third from the mid-October massive protests that disrupted France's main cities.

Among the trade unions, there have also been differences as three groups, the militant Force Ouvriere and the moderate CFC-CGC and CFTC unions, did not respond the call for the next session of protests.

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