French CGT union threatens more protests over pensions plan

Four branches of France's hardlineCGTunion, including railway and transport workers, threatened on Sunday to step upprotestsunless the government withdraws its pension reform proposal this week.

In a majoroverhaul of France's complex pension scheme, the government has proposed that people work longer to get a full pension, drawing a hostile response from tradeunions which called for a new mass protest on Tuesday.

Concern has risen that the travel chaos that has hit the country since December 5. would extend to the year-end period

Add WION as a Preferred Source

"TheCGTFederations of Railway, Transport, Mines, and Energy, and Chemical Industries say that the Government has one week to announce the withdrawal of its project and the relaunch of real negotiations for the improvement of the current system," theunionbranches said in a joint statement

"If the Prime Minister persists in affirming that 'the country is disturbed but not blocked', the employees of the public and the private sector will draw the conclusion from this that they must redouble their mobilisation, multiply calls to strike in all companies and further increase the level ofprotests."

CGTleader Philippe Martinez denied that this was an ultimatum.

"If the government pulls itsplanand we discuss seriously on how to improve the system everything will be fine," he told BFMTV. "Otherwise strikers will decide on Thursday or Friday on what to do."

Asked if transport might be disrupted at Christmas, Martinez said: "Today I cannot tell you. The question should be put to the Prime Minister and to the President of the Republic."

By contrast, the reform-minded CFDTunionsaid on Sunday it was opposed to transport strikesoverthe Christmas period but would call for action in January if the government did not meet some of its demands, chiefly to remove the inducement to work until 64 through a system of bonuses and discounts.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe told Le Parisien Dimanche weekly that heplanned to meetunions next week, adding that he was open to negotiation.

Frenchretailers and hoteliers have warned that their crucial Christmas season could be derailed if the transport strike drags on for much longer.