Strikes and power cuts grip France as protesters fight against government's decision to increase retirement age
A person waves a French tricolor at the end of a demonstration Tuesday December 17, 2019 in Paris. Teachers, doctors, lawyers and workers at the Eiffel Tower — people from across the French workforce walked off the job Tuesday to resist a higher retirement age, and to preserve a welfare system they fear their business-friendly president wants to dismantle.
Hospital workers in scrubs, Air France staff in uniforms, lawyers wearing long black robes — people from across the French workforce joined in the strikes and protests in higher numbers than the last cross-sector walkout last week. Tourists cancelled plans and Paris commuters took hours to get to work Tuesday, as train drivers kept up their strike against changes to a system that allows them and other workers under special pension regimes to retire as early as their 50s.
Police in Paris barricaded the presidential Elysee Palace, bracing for violence by yellow vest activists or other radical demonstrators.“They should open their eyes,” said Philippe Martinez, the head of the CGT union, said at the head of the Paris march.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
No school, no trains, no Eiffel Tower: France on strikeFrench teachers, doctors and workers at the Eiffel Tower have walked off the job to join striking train drivers. They are all angry at government plans to raise the retirement age. Commuters and tourists face a 13th straight day of traffic headaches.
Read more »
Possible 'white power' hand signs at Army-Navy game probedThe Army and Navy academies are looking into hand signs flashed by students that can be associated with “white power' and were televised during the Army-Navy football game on Saturday, school officials said.
Read more »
The moral power of “A Hidden Life”Terrence Malick’s new film tells the true story of Franz Jägerstätter, a conscientious objector in the second world war
Read more »
Possible flashing of white power hand sign at Army-Navy game prompts uproar'Expulsion?' one Twitter user asked.
Read more »
Military Investigating Possible White Power Hand Signal at Army-Navy GameBoth military academies are “looking into” a hand gesture associated with white power that cadets flashed during the broadcast of the football game.
Read more »