French President Emmanuel Macron will on Sunday meet ministers involved in his radical pension reform which has prompted a nationwide strike and brought key transport services to a standstill.

Transport in Paris remained paralysed Sunday, with only the two driverless lines of the Metro in operation while national rail operator SNCF warned just one in six high-speed trains would be running.

The strikes, which began on Thursday over the plans for a single points-based pension scheme, recall the winter of 1995, when three weeks of huge stoppages forced a social policy U-turn by the then-government.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe insisted his government would not abandon the plan.

"If we do not make a far-reaching, serious and progressive reform today, someone else will make a really brutal one tomorrow," Philippe was quoted as saying by Le Journal du Dimanche.

But the leader of the hardline CGT union, Philippe Martinez, told the paper "We will keep up until the withdrawal" of the reform plan.

The prime minister is due to unveil full details of the reform to merge the 42 existing pension plans, which could spark more union anger.

"We can provide extremely positive answers for many people who suffer injustices in the current system: women, farmers, and career-changers in particular," he said.

Unions have vowed a second series of mass demonstrations nationwide on Tuesday and there is expected to be little easing of the transport freeze over the coming days.

In a joint statement, the three main rail unions called for the strike to be stepped up on Monday.

Biggest challenge

The strikes could prove to be the biggest domestic challenge yet for Macron, who came to power in 2017 on the back of promises to radically reform France and has sought a prominent place on the international stage as Europe's number one statesman.

Macron was widely believed to have ridden out the challenge posed by the "yellow vests" whose weekly Saturday protests against inequality in France had shaken the government over the last year.

But the yellow vests have also sought to use the momentum of the strike movement and held a fresh protest in Paris on Saturday and others in several cities across France.

Unions say Macron's proposal for a single-pension system would force millions of people in both the public and private sectors to work well beyond the official retirement age of 62.

At least 800,000 took part in rallies around the country on Thursday, according to the interior ministry -- one of the biggest demonstrations of union strength in nearly a decade.

A crucial week now lies ahead: commuters will struggle to get to work on Monday and more giant nationwide protests are planned for Tuesday.

Transilien, the operator of the Paris region rail network, warned of severe shortages Monday and recommended using other means of transport such as car-sharing.

The international Eurostar and Thalys rail services have been hit by cancellations.

Tourists in Paris also faced some disappointments: the world-famous Louvre Museum said some rooms would be closed due to the strikes, while the landmark exhibition of painter El Greco at the Grand Palais was closed.

The Paris Opera and several theatres in the capital have cancelled performances over the last few days due to the strike.

French President Emmanuel Macron will on Sunday meet ministers involved in his radical pension reform which has prompted a nationwide strike and brought key transport services to a standstill.

French President Emmanuel Macron will on Sunday meet ministers involved in his radical pension reform which has prompted a nationwide strike and brought key transport services to a standstill. Transport in Paris remained paralysed Sunday, with only the two driverless lines of the Metro in operation while national rail operator SNCF warned just one in six high-speed trains would be running. The strikes, which began on Thursday over the plans for a single points-based pension scheme, recall the winter of 1995, when three weeks of huge stoppages forced a social policy U-turn by the then-government. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe insisted his government would not abandon the plan. "If we do not make a far-reaching, serious and progressive reform today, someone else will make a really brutal one tomorrow," Philippe was quoted as saying by Le Journal du Dimanche. But the leader of the hardline CGT union, Philippe Martinez, told the paper "We will keep up until the withdrawal" of the reform plan. The prime minister is due to unveil full details of the reform to merge the 42 existing pension plans, which could spark more union anger. "We can provide extremely positive answers for many people who suffer injustices in the current system: women, farmers, and career-changers in particular," he said. Unions have vowed a second series of mass demonstrations nationwide on Tuesday and there is expected to be little easing of the transport freeze over the coming days. In a joint statement, the three main rail unions called for the strike to be stepped up on Monday. Biggest challenge The strikes could prove to be the biggest domestic challenge yet for Macron, who came to power in 2017 on the back of promises to radically reform France and has sought a prominent place on the international stage as Europe's number one statesman. Macron was widely believed to have ridden out the challenge posed by the "yellow vests" whose weekly Saturday protests against inequality in France had shaken the government over the last year. But the yellow vests have also sought to use the momentum of the strike movement and held a fresh protest in Paris on Saturday and others in several cities across France. Unions say Macron's proposal for a single-pension system would force millions of people in both the public and private sectors to work well beyond the official retirement age of 62. At least 800,000 took part in rallies around the country on Thursday, according to the interior ministry -- one of the biggest demonstrations of union strength in nearly a decade. A crucial week now lies ahead: commuters will struggle to get to work on Monday and more giant nationwide protests are planned for Tuesday. Transilien, the operator of the Paris region rail network, warned of severe shortages Monday and recommended using other means of transport such as car-sharing. The international Eurostar and Thalys rail services have been hit by cancellations. Tourists in Paris also faced some disappointments: the world-famous Louvre Museum said some rooms would be closed due to the strikes, while the landmark exhibition of painter El Greco at the Grand Palais was closed. The Paris Opera and several theatres in the capital have cancelled performances over the last few days due to the strike.

France's Emmanuel Macron to hold meeting on pensions as strike bites

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/paris-police-fire-tear-gas-on-yellow-vest-protests-anniversary-262597">Paris</a> public transport operator warned Thursday of "severely disrupted traffic" on metro and bus lines during a strike on December 5 against the government's pension reforms.

Officials are bracing for major protests that could snarl rail and metro traffic across the country, raising the spectre of a second French winter of discontent a year after the start of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/yellow-vest-protesters-back-on-streets-of-paris-262729">"yellow vest"</a> protest movement.

Unions have called a new indefinite strike against an overhaul of the pensions system that they say will require people to work longer or accept a lower pension.

The national rail operator SNCF has taken the unusual step of halting all ticket sales for December 5-8 on expectations of sweeping train cancellations.

RATP, which operates the Paris metro, said it would team up with companies offering travel alternatives for commuters, such as carpooling groups and ride-hailing firms.

It will also provide "complementary mobility services" such as bicycles and the electric scooters which have inundated the French capital since last year.

Many schools in Paris have warned parents that classes might be cancelled next Thursday and Friday, and firms already expect many employees will be unable to make it in to work.

In September, the city already got a foretaste of the possible disruption in store when a one-day strike shut down most of the 16 lines on the metro.

Alongside the rail and metro workers, unions at Air France and the electricity group EDF have also announced plans to strike, as have lawyers who say the pension reforms will drain the financial reserves of their own separate pension scheme.

The government has vowed to do away with dozens of advantageous pension schemes enjoyed by workers in state transport and utility companies, as well as sailors, solicitors and Paris Opera workers.

Metro workers say the reforms would remove their long-held rights to early retirement, secured decades ago to compensate for spending long hours underground.

A recent report from France's state auditor, the Cour des Comptes, found that the average retirement age for public transport workers in Paris in 2017 was 55.7, compared with 63 years for most French workers.

The strike poses a stiff challenge to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/poland-says-frances-macron-comments-on-nato-dangerous-261350">President Emmanuel Macron</a>'s reform agenda, feeding into a growing mood of discontent that has brought tens of thousands of hospital workers, students, firefighters, police, farmers and lawyers onto the streets in the past three months.

The Paris public transport operator warned Thursday of "severely disrupted traffic" on metro and bus lines during a strike on December 5 against the government's pension reforms.

The Paris public transport operator warned Thursday of "severely disrupted traffic" on metro and bus lines during a strike on December 5 against the government's pension reforms. Officials are bracing for major protests that could snarl rail and metro traffic across the country, raising the spectre of a second French winter of discontent a year after the start of the "yellow vest" protest movement. Unions have called a new indefinite strike against an overhaul of the pensions system that they say will require people to work longer or accept a lower pension. The national rail operator SNCF has taken the unusual step of halting all ticket sales for December 5-8 on expectations of sweeping train cancellations. RATP, which operates the Paris metro, said it would team up with companies offering travel alternatives for commuters, such as carpooling groups and ride-hailing firms. It will also provide "complementary mobility services" such as bicycles and the electric scooters which have inundated the French capital since last year. Many schools in Paris have warned parents that classes might be cancelled next Thursday and Friday, and firms already expect many employees will be unable to make it in to work. In September, the city already got a foretaste of the possible disruption in store when a one-day strike shut down most of the 16 lines on the metro. Alongside the rail and metro workers, unions at Air France and the electricity group EDF have also announced plans to strike, as have lawyers who say the pension reforms will drain the financial reserves of their own separate pension scheme. The government has vowed to do away with dozens of advantageous pension schemes enjoyed by workers in state transport and utility companies, as well as sailors, solicitors and Paris Opera workers. Metro workers say the reforms would remove their long-held rights to early retirement, secured decades ago to compensate for spending long hours underground. A recent report from France's state auditor, the Cour des Comptes, found that the average retirement age for public transport workers in Paris in 2017 was 55.7, compared with 63 years for most French workers. The strike poses a stiff challenge to President Emmanuel Macron's reform agenda, feeding into a growing mood of discontent that has brought tens of thousands of hospital workers, students, firefighters, police, farmers and lawyers onto the streets in the past three months.

Paris metro faces 'severe' disruptions from December 5 strike

A strike called by rail worker's entered the third week in Paris as students and civil servants also joined the demonstration against the reforms in country's labour law proposed by President Emmanuel Macron.

The crowd urged against the privatisation of railways as they expressed their anger through lighting up flares and raising slogans against the Macron.

A clash between police and demonstrator also broke out during the protest. Water cannons and tear gas were used by the deployed force to disperse the crowd.

Emmanuel Macron came under fire recently as he made a controversial proposal to privatise its debt-ridden&nbspSNCF railway company.

The state-owned&nbsprailway firm which operates most of the railway network of France is currently on the decline. It is reportedly under dept of €45 billion.

On Tuesday parliament's lower house passed a reform bill&nbspunder which special employment benefits inlcuding job-for life guarantee&nbspand early retirement were scrapped.

A new bill was also designed to tighten France’s immigration and asylum policies.

The strike is continuing from last two weeks and has caused a major disruption to millions of commuters as the rail workers halted the train services.

According to news agency Reuters, just one in three high-speed TGV trains were running and SNCF management saying more than 20 per cent of staff stopped its work.

On Thursday as well a protest march was called. The General Confederation of Labour Union reportedly said that 300,000 people demonstrated across the country. However, the Interior Ministry put the figure at 119,500.&nbsp

The police reportedly counted 11,500 marchers in Paris.

Media reports say that the protests can continue tithe ll end of June.

The crowd urged against the privatisation of railways as they expressed their anger through lighting up flares and raising slogans against the Macron

A strike called by rail worker's entered the third week in Paris as students and civil servants also joined the demonstration against the reforms in country's labour law proposed by President Emmanuel Macron. The crowd urged against the privatisation of railways as they expressed their anger through lighting up flares and raising slogans against the Macron. A clash between police and demonstrator also broke out during the protest. Water cannons and tear gas were used by the deployed force to disperse the crowd. Emmanuel Macron came under fire recently as he made a controversial proposal to privatise its debt-ridden&nbspSNCF railway company. The state-owned&nbsprailway firm which operates most of the railway network of France is currently on the decline. It is reportedly under dept of €45 billion. On Tuesday parliament's lower house passed a reform bill&nbspunder which special employment benefits inlcuding job-for life guarantee&nbspand early retirement were scrapped. A new bill was also designed to tighten France’s immigration and asylum policies. The strike is continuing from last two weeks and has caused a major disruption to millions of commuters as the rail workers halted the train services. According to news agency Reuters, just one in three high-speed TGV trains were running and SNCF management saying more than 20 per cent of staff stopped its work. On Thursday as well a protest march was called. The General Confederation of Labour Union reportedly said that 300,000 people demonstrated across the country. However, the Interior Ministry put the figure at 119,500. The police reportedly counted 11,500 marchers in Paris. Media reports say that the protests can continue tithe ll end of June.

Paris: Railway workers' strike against railway reforms enters third week, millions of commuters affected

The Indian Railways is going full steam to achieve the target of covering the 245-km long Delhi-Chandigarh distance in two hours despite many curves on the proposed semi high-speed route.

A recent report by SNCF (French National Railway Corporation) submitted to Indian Railways&nbsp;says that to increase the train speed on the Delhi- Chandigarh route will cost about Rs 10,000 crore.

Total travel time would get reduced to 2 hours and 2 minutes with a maximum speed of 200 kmph after increasing the train speed.

Currently, if a passenger travels in the Shatabdi train then it would take around three hours and a half hours&nbsp;to reach Chandigarh at a maximum speed of 110 kmph.&nbsp;

The semi-high speed train journey from Delhi to Chandigarh will have two stops - Panipat and Ambala.

The French company has submitted a&nbsp;1,500-page&nbsp;detailed report to the Indian Railways for preparing tendering documents and to draw an action plan.

The Delhi-Chandigarh route is one of the busiest routes in north India, will soon have its first semi-high speed project.

The project is supposed to be launched in January 2018 with&nbsp;French President Emmanuel Macron expected to visit India for the launch.

A Recent report by SNCF (French National Railway Corporation) submitted to Indian Railways, says that to increase the train speed on the Delhi- Chandigarh route will cost about Rs 10,000 crore.

The Indian Railways is going full steam to achieve the target of covering the 245-km long Delhi-Chandigarh distance in two hours despite many curves on the proposed semi high-speed route. A recent report by SNCF (French National Railway Corporation) submitted to Indian Railways says that to increase the train speed on the Delhi- Chandigarh route will cost about Rs 10,000 crore. Total travel time would get reduced to 2 hours and 2 minutes with a maximum speed of 200 kmph after increasing the train speed. Currently, if a passenger travels in the Shatabdi train then it would take around three hours and a half hours to reach Chandigarh at a maximum speed of 110 kmph. The semi-high speed train journey from Delhi to Chandigarh will have two stops - Panipat and Ambala. The French company has submitted a 1,500-page detailed report to the Indian Railways for preparing tendering documents and to draw an action plan. The Delhi-Chandigarh route is one of the busiest routes in north India, will soon have its first semi-high speed project. The project is supposed to be launched in January 2018 with French President Emmanuel Macron expected to visit India for the launch.

French firm suggests upgrading Delhi-Chandigarh train route, submits Rs 10,000 crore proposal

France&#39;s government, scrambling to end a wave of protests that could disrupt the Euro 2016 soccer championship, called today for an end to the national rail strike and told Air France pilots their plans to stop work were &quot;irresponsible&quot;. 
 
The calls came as an open-ended stoppage at the railways entered its third day, reducing train services by about half, a week before the June 10 opening of the soccer tournament which should draw some 2.5 million fans, many of them from abroad. 
 
Transport minister Alain Vidalies said the government had satisfied union demands to protect rest periods for rail workers and help with the 50 billion euro ($55.76 billion) debt of the Soci?t? nationale des chemins de fer fran?ais rail company(SNCF), saying the militant Conf?d?ration g?n?rale du travail (CGT) union should call off its action. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s time to acknowledge the progress that&#39;s been made and to get back to work,&quot; the minister told RTL radio. 
 
The Socialist government has intervened in internal talks on reorganisation of the SNCF to try to defuse tensions, and made concessions to avert an air traffic controllers&#39; strike. But it now faces a walkout by pilots at flag carrier Air France next week. 
 
&quot;This is irresponsible,&quot; the minister said, adding that nobody would understand why a stoppage over planned pay curbs was timed to start one day into the month-long soccer event. 
 
Two unions representing the bulk of Air France pilots have given notice of a strike from June 11 to 14 and said they may schedule further stoppages. 
 
The militant CGT union is spearheading strikes at the state rail company and at refinieries and nuclear power stations in a bid to force the government to withdraw a contested reform of labour laws that would make hiring and firing easier. 
 
The core protest has coincided with sectoral issues such as difficult reorganisation negotiations to prepare the SNCF for Europe-wide liberalisation of train traffic in 2020 and, at Air France, efforts to reduce costs. 
 
Prime Minister Manuel Valls has said the CGT union, one of the two large unions in France, was waging an increasingly lonely war now that most other unions had dropped their grievances. 
 
&quot;If we gave into the CGT, a union which is in the minority even if I respect its history and struggle, it would no longer be possible to reform France,&quot; he told l&#39;Est Republicain.

The transport strike is taking place in a bid to force the French government to withdraw labour reform bill which will grant companies power to hire and fire workers and extend working hours.

France's government, scrambling to end a wave of protests that could disrupt the Euro 2016 soccer championship, called today for an end to the national rail strike and told Air France pilots their plans to stop work were "irresponsible". The calls came as an open-ended stoppage at the railways entered its third day, reducing train services by about half, a week before the June 10 opening of the soccer tournament which should draw some 2.5 million fans, many of them from abroad. Transport minister Alain Vidalies said the government had satisfied union demands to protect rest periods for rail workers and help with the 50 billion euro ($55.76 billion) debt of the Soci?t? nationale des chemins de fer fran?ais rail company(SNCF), saying the militant Conf?d?ration g?n?rale du travail (CGT) union should call off its action. "It's time to acknowledge the progress that's been made and to get back to work," the minister told RTL radio. The Socialist government has intervened in internal talks on reorganisation of the SNCF to try to defuse tensions, and made concessions to avert an air traffic controllers' strike. But it now faces a walkout by pilots at flag carrier Air France next week. "This is irresponsible," the minister said, adding that nobody would understand why a stoppage over planned pay curbs was timed to start one day into the month-long soccer event. Two unions representing the bulk of Air France pilots have given notice of a strike from June 11 to 14 and said they may schedule further stoppages. The militant CGT union is spearheading strikes at the state rail company and at refinieries and nuclear power stations in a bid to force the government to withdraw a contested reform of labour laws that would make hiring and firing easier. The core protest has coincided with sectoral issues such as difficult reorganisation negotiations to prepare the SNCF for Europe-wide liberalisation of train traffic in 2020 and, at Air France, efforts to reduce costs. Prime Minister Manuel Valls has said the CGT union, one of the two large unions in France, was waging an increasingly lonely war now that most other unions had dropped their grievances. "If we gave into the CGT, a union which is in the minority even if I respect its history and struggle, it would no longer be possible to reform France," he told l'Est Republicain.

French government urges end to strikes a week from Euro soccer

sncf

Sncf, News on Sncf, stories on Sncf, articles on Sncf, Sncf stories at Wion, Sncf news, Sncf latest news