Fourth round of strikes grips France

Workers across the country have walked off the job in protest of changes to pension benefits.

Trains to Paris are running at one-third of normal frequency and up to 50 per cent of flights at French airports will be cancelled today, as unions representing energy and transport workers, teachers, and civil servants called a national day of action against an increase to the national retirement age. The French Senate voted Monday to increase the retirement age from 65 to 67 to alleviate the national pension fund’s USD$39 billion deficit. The government is desperate to enact austerity measures but has met with strong opposition. This is the fourth national day of action against the pension changes since the summer. Energy output at nuclear plants is down as workers left their posts, and students have blocked campuses.