National strike over pension reform in Paris

Protests against the pension reform, which is supported by 69 % of the French, will not stop regardless of the problems linked with them: trade unions have made a decision to hold new nationwide protests on October 28 and November 6.

The strikes against the pension reform have been continuing in France for over a week. Almost all oil refining factories have stopped working in the country and protesters have blocked fuel storage units, roads to airports and other sites every day.

Filling stations across the country lack fuel, the traffic is blocked and protests staged by the youth are continuing and frequently lead to clashes with police.

In most spheres the strikes are held at a definite time established by trade unions, however some protest every day. Difficulties occur daily in this or that sphere, in a number of cities demonstrators block access to train stations and airports and artificially create traffic jams on highways, taking over all the lanes and moving "at a snail’s pace."

The French retire at the age of 60 if they paid into their pension funds over the last 40.5 years, and at the age of 65 if payments were made less than this term. The government plans to raise the retirement age to 62 and 67 years, respectively. The necessary term of retirement fund payments by 2018 will reach 42 years. Photo: a student demonstration in Paris.

In line with the draft law, the pension age will be increased gradually, starting from July 1, 2011. Those who were born in 1951 will retire four months after turning 60 years, and then each year the pension age will increase by four months. Photo: a student demonstration in Paris.

Discontent with the reform is intensified by the fact that its preparation is led by Minister of Labor Eric Woerth, who is embroiled in Liliane Bettencourt tax scandal. Photo: French police.

President Nicolas Sarkozy firmly intends to carry out the reform to save the system of pension payments which annually increase the state debt. The public spending deficit in France this year could reach 8% of GDP and exceed 150 billion euros ($209 bln). Photo: a student demonstration in Paris.