PARIS - The confrontation between the French government and unions on plans to reform the pension system intensified Tuesday, workers in transport and energy, teachers and public servants went on strike across the country.
Unions in some sectors, including transport - transport, ports and energy - have hardened their positions, threatening to prolong the strike. They have locals the power to decide on a daily basis whether to renew the action.
The unions also called for a day of demonstrations on Saturday.
On Tuesday, the national rail operator SNCF, Paris commuter trains were running at only one third the normal rate, while services in rural areas were hardest hit.
The service was normal on the Eurostar to London, and trains to Belgium and Germany were running two-thirds of normal hours.
RER commuter trains were running in Paris in less than 50 percent, while there were also disturbances in the Paris metro and bus system.
Airports provide significant disruption of flights and air traffic controllers and the Air France staff joined the strike. At Roissy Charles de Gaulle and Beauvais, 30 percent of flights were canceled, and about 50 percent at Orly. The long-haul flights were expected to remain, however.
Unions in the ports, refineries, chemical industries and in public administration and education have also approved of the action.
A strike at oil terminals in Marseille, continued Tuesday, raising concerns about fuel shortages, especially in the island of Corsica, which is supplied from the mainland, but the fuel is through Italy and Spain.
Mars represents the fourth day of protest against the law since the end of summer. Many protesters are expected to take to the streets in demonstrations across the country.
The government and unions play a game of cat and mouse on the changes in the pension system, including President Nicolas Sarkozy has made a cornerstone of his first term, which ends in 2012.
In June, the government proposed to gradually increase the minimum retirement age to 62 from 60 courses in 2018. The plans also include increasing the age at which workers can receive a pension without penalty to 67 in 2023 to 65 in 2018.
The government tries to maintain its superior credit rating by showing who is serious about limiting spending and borrowing. The deficit in the pension system should only $ 39 dollars this year. This figure will rise unless changes are made.
Faced with widespread anger, Mr Sarkozy has offered some concessions - such as last week proposed relaxing rules for women in their fifties who stopped working to put at least three children. The government said it would cost nearly $ 4.8 billion and would be financed by capital gains on property sales higher.
Unions have described the offer is inadequate and we hope the action will force the government to the negotiating table. The government has insisted that the change of heart - to raise the minimum age for retirement - you can not negotiate.
Monday night, the Senate, the upper house of Parliament voted to raise the retirement age with full pension at 67, 65, who has already agreed to increase the statutory retirement age to 62 from 60 . Senators from the opposition Socialist Party is still hope to stop the full adoption of package by amendments.
Last month, the House of Representatives has voted to raise the minimum retirement age to 62 years.
Opposition to the government seems to be spreading. The unions described the action on Tuesday, a definition phase in the fight for pensions, predicting a turnout higher than in similar protests last month.
Unions in some sectors, including transport - transport, ports and energy - have hardened their positions, threatening to prolong the strike. They have locals the power to decide on a daily basis whether to renew the action.
The unions also called for a day of demonstrations on Saturday.
On Tuesday, the national rail operator SNCF, Paris commuter trains were running at only one third the normal rate, while services in rural areas were hardest hit.
The service was normal on the Eurostar to London, and trains to Belgium and Germany were running two-thirds of normal hours.
RER commuter trains were running in Paris in less than 50 percent, while there were also disturbances in the Paris metro and bus system.
Airports provide significant disruption of flights and air traffic controllers and the Air France staff joined the strike. At Roissy Charles de Gaulle and Beauvais, 30 percent of flights were canceled, and about 50 percent at Orly. The long-haul flights were expected to remain, however.
Unions in the ports, refineries, chemical industries and in public administration and education have also approved of the action.
A strike at oil terminals in Marseille, continued Tuesday, raising concerns about fuel shortages, especially in the island of Corsica, which is supplied from the mainland, but the fuel is through Italy and Spain.
Mars represents the fourth day of protest against the law since the end of summer. Many protesters are expected to take to the streets in demonstrations across the country.
The government and unions play a game of cat and mouse on the changes in the pension system, including President Nicolas Sarkozy has made a cornerstone of his first term, which ends in 2012.
In June, the government proposed to gradually increase the minimum retirement age to 62 from 60 courses in 2018. The plans also include increasing the age at which workers can receive a pension without penalty to 67 in 2023 to 65 in 2018.
The government tries to maintain its superior credit rating by showing who is serious about limiting spending and borrowing. The deficit in the pension system should only $ 39 dollars this year. This figure will rise unless changes are made.
Faced with widespread anger, Mr Sarkozy has offered some concessions - such as last week proposed relaxing rules for women in their fifties who stopped working to put at least three children. The government said it would cost nearly $ 4.8 billion and would be financed by capital gains on property sales higher.
Unions have described the offer is inadequate and we hope the action will force the government to the negotiating table. The government has insisted that the change of heart - to raise the minimum age for retirement - you can not negotiate.
Monday night, the Senate, the upper house of Parliament voted to raise the retirement age with full pension at 67, 65, who has already agreed to increase the statutory retirement age to 62 from 60 . Senators from the opposition Socialist Party is still hope to stop the full adoption of package by amendments.
Last month, the House of Representatives has voted to raise the minimum retirement age to 62 years.
Opposition to the government seems to be spreading. The unions described the action on Tuesday, a definition phase in the fight for pensions, predicting a turnout higher than in similar protests last month.
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