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Latest update: 27/05/2010
- France - French economy - Retirement - strike
Unions stage protests against plans for retirement age hike
Tens of thousands of marchers gathered Thursday in several French cities after labour unions called for a day of strikes and protests against a government plan to raise the legal retirement age to help curb the country's mounting public deficit.
AFP - French labour unions staged a day of strikes and street rallies on Thursday to protest against President Nicolas Sarkozy's plan to raise the retirement age beyond 60 years.
Opinion polls show most voters oppose the reform and by midday tens of thousands of marchers had gathered in several cities, but there were mixed reports about participation in strike action.
Teaching unions announced that 40 percent of primary and secondary school teachers had gone on strike, whereas the education ministry put the figure at just over 12 percent.
Public transport was only mildly disrupted nationwide, with three quarters of regional trains and all high-speed TGV services running as normal and only very minor delays for some Paris commuters.
Nevertheless, a strike by air traffic controllers in support of the protest saw 30 percent of flights from Paris Orly airport cancelled and 10 percent from Charles de Gaulle, the environment ministry said.
"What happens today will be fairly decisive for how things develop," said Bernard Thibault, leader of the CGT, the largest of the broad coalition of trade unions organising the national protest.
"I'd like to see us exceed the mobilisation we achieved on March 23," he told Europe 1 radio, referring to France's last large-scale labour protest, when unions estimated turnout at 800,000 and the police at 350,000.
If the unions fail to mobilise a similar number this week, it will be seen as a victory for the government, but labour and opposition leaders said they were confident of a big turnout.
The postal service said that 12.58 percent of staff were on strike, slightly more than the 11.45 percent who walked out on March 23.
Polls published Thursday in two newspapers, Le Parisien and L'Humanite, found that around two thirds of French voters were prepared to join one of the dozens of rallies being organised around the country.
This appears to reflect growing opposition to Sarkozy's plan, which the government only confirmed this week.
A previous poll conducted this month by CSA/CECOP showed a narrow majority accept the change is inevitable, whereas a later survey found a similarly narrow majority think it unnecessary.
In common with much of Europe, France is grappling with a huge public deficit, and the government argues that reforming pension rules and delaying the minimum retirement age will help control mounting debt.
Many of France's neighbours have announced harsh spending cuts but Sarkozy, who is suffering record unpopularity and faces a re-election fight in two years, has been cautious, refusing to speak of an austerity programme.
Nevertheless, this week ministers confirmed what had long been suspected: that he plans to abolish retirement at 60, a cherished symbol for the French left of its victories under late president Francois Mitterrand.
French retirees receive 85 percent of their pension payments from state schemes, compared to an average of 61 percent among member states of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Although 60 is the theoretical minimum age for retirement on a full state pension, various special schemes exist in the public sector for those with jobs perceived as tough or those who started in work in their teens.
On average French men retire at 58.7 years and women at 59.5, compared to an OECD average of 63.5 and 62.3, according to the body.
"It's a demographic problem. France is behind Malta as the country where we work the least," Budget Minister Francois Baroin told i-Tele.
Pensions account for the bulk of the social security budget, which can no longer in itself cover payments, with the excess being covered by state borrowing, forcing up France's public deficit.
According to the French government's panel studying pension finance, the shortfall between pension contributions and spending was 10.9 billion euros in 2008 and will rise to between 71.6 billion and 114.4 billion by 2050.
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Comments (72)
The world is changing so
The world is changing so rapidly. It is only a matter of time before unions disappear because they produce a non-competitive work force.
Someone needs to start a
Someone needs to start a Socialism rehab program. People get so addicted to their entitlements they forget that, you actually have to provide something to society to be able to reap the rewards.
Unions
Unions are bankrupting the world. Seriously. They are striking because they can't receive a pension until they are 62?
How about 80?
I personally intend to work to age 80. Retirement is not all it is cracked up to be.
How can they go on?
Work to 62 years of age (*whine*) 35 hour work week (*boo hoo*) 5 weeks paid leave annually (*sniff sniff*) lousy soccer team (*sob*) bad food (*bawl*) How can they go on living? Maybe they should all move to the U.S. If they get in illegally (excuse me, “undocumented”) they can be supported by the American Taxpayer, not work at all and live the good life. They will of course be forced to cast their Illegal ballot for the correct party during all elections.
Lesson for Americans
This article is a great lesson for American's and it's something the left in this country already knows. That is that, once you give someone something (i.e., entitle them to something), they will never give it up. You will be their hero and stay in power as long as you promise to keep giving them what they're due. Eventually, it will all collapse in on itself because you've promised more than you can give/pay for. By that time, however, you'll be retired and/or dead, so you won't care. You were in power while you're alive and the results of your actions are someone else's problem.
Retirement
I am so disappointed that, while Euro leaders try to pull their countries a little more toward capitalism, our president is headed the other way.
Just like the French, always
Just like the French, always wanting to be the first to quit.
strikes
The strike itself will only hurt more of the French. Second of all it doesn't hurt them one bit to work longer and not retire so early. The entire population is getting older and to offset their socialistic government (and mentality) they will realistically have to work longer. Quit being so lazy. Older people have more experience to bring to the workforce.
I can't believe that so many
I can't believe that so many people don't understand economics.
You can't sustain retirees for 18+ years unless your tax base is growing. That's not the case in France.
retire at 62
Sounds good to me. I will be 62 on June 30 and not be able to retire for 4 more years here in the USA. I have worked 40 to 60 hours every week since graduating from college in 1972.
France is Still France
Well, unemployment is still 20%, a 28 to 32 hour week, with cradle to grave entitlements.
Geez, and the French are still complaining.
Glad you got defeated for the World Cup also. Go think about that, as the EU, and the EURO, are destined to fail.
One of my employees came up
One of my employees came up to me the other day bragging that he would be able to retire at 58 if he kept doing well for my business, he then asked when I planned to retire.
Retire? Never, why would anyone ever want to retire? Retiring is, well, for those who never really took joy from hard work in the first place. Why would a free person ever choose to work at something they don't enjoy? Even worse, why should I ever pay for them not work?
It's difficult for most Americans to understand the French abhorrence of labor and production, but it is interesting to watch people marching, fighting over and denying the universal reality that time = money.
It's a crying shame...
... but gee, here in the US we work a lot longer than that. Now that folks are living longer (and presumably healthier) into their old age, how else is society supposed to deal with that from a fiscal standpoint? We can't expect our young people to support a bunch of healthy seniors who could still be productive. I'm 56 and would love to retire at 60... ain't gonna happen, though!
Retirement Age
All I read and hear is about strikes and riots going on in France. The unions want this and want that. All the time wasted in strikes or riots, should be added on and make the retirement age even higher.
It's simple math
If you want to go bankrupt keep the retirement age at 60, if you want a viable country for the long term increase the retirement age along with life expectancy. It’s happening everywhere, here in the US social security at 65 made a lot of sense back in the 30’s when the average man lived 60 years. But now we’re pushing 80 on the average and we simply can’t afford it.
Welcome to the work week
All people around the world need to realize the Americans are not crazy for working so much. It is necessary to have a modern lifestyle.
Get used to it.
Let's compromise. We will
Let's compromise. We will continue to allow the French to retire at 60 if, in turn, they will agree to be euthanized at 70. It's fair and balanced.
France's Retirement Age
Where do opponents of raising the retirement age believe funds will be obtained to avoid the age increase? That is not reported in this story and it is not clear to Americans what has been proposed to alleviate the need for Sarkozy's proposed action.
Selfish Europeans
62? 66? in AMERICA we may only retire at 67! How spoiled are Europeans....
People all over the world are
People all over the world are going to find out they cannot retire and live a life of leizure off the backs of the young and working
Who cares if there's not
Who cares if there's not enough money for these Frenchies to receive big pensions for 30 years after retire ment. They want to, so they should be able to! Raise taxes on the young! Make them pay, pay, pay!
Retirement
jai would like to tell you we are able ???
French retirement
Ah the poor French. First their soccer team is a national embarrassment and now they will have to work for their money like the rest of the world. No one in the rest of the world feels sorry for them.
Sarkozy
These people are already employed by the government - that is why their "retirement" age is being increased. Your argument that they will not be able to get a job due to their age isn't important.
Yeah, so? - Oui, alors ?
In the U.S. the retirement age is 65 or higher. We don't think that much about it. If you want to retire earlier, you can. Just save money for an early retirement during your career.
Strike
Looks like the grand socialism programs are proving their peril. Too many unwilling to work. The gravy train is kaput.
Deal with it
What a joke. I mean seriously! Here in the US, people often work until they are 65 or 70. And people are up in arms about working til 62 in France. I just can't have any sympathy for people having to work and not milk the state for a couple of more years.
I am puzzled that the French
I am puzzled that the French are unaware that very soon, there will be no pensions. The long cycle of accumulating more debt, or robbing Peter to pay Paul, will soon end. Get used to the idea that your paper money will only be used in the fireplace to keep warm. Where on earth did you get the idea that someone had to take care of you?
Start learning to take care of yourself, now.
Re: Sarcozy plans to raise the retirement age
Jobs won't need to be created just because you raise the retirement age. You can grandfather the law in so that all those who have retired remain retired, and those who are due pensions but aren't receiving it are unable to collect until age 62.
Cry me a river
France strikes over everything. Many people in America don't retire until late sixties and into their seventies. But those who save for their own retirement can retire early if they want to. Try saving some of your own money you parasites. You depend on the government to give you everything. Take charge of your own life and invest your own money for retirement. Grow up people!!
Human Right
Early Retirement is a basic human right, like food, housing, a car and money for bling. The people shouldn't have to pay for these things - the government should!
what happens when you allow unchecked migration
someone's gotta pay for it, folks. welcome to the 3rd world, france. the us has been there for years...and we ain't seen nuthin' yet.
16
Does this mean that the French can no longer retire after reaching the age of 16?
Retirement Age in France
Once you give people a sense of entitlement, it is almost impossible to take anything away from them (even if it means bankrupting your country).
strike
Sarkozy - do a Ronald Ragean and fire all the striking civil servants. You have a high unemployment rate so you will have no problem finding new workers who will be happy to work until 62 rather than 60.
Decisions
France, and indeed all countries, are getting to the point where tough decisions will need to be made. Entitlement programs will be exploding in debt now that the children born after WWII are retiring. Either changes need to be made, or we could see some major problems in the next few years...
Retirement Age Still Too Low
Only 62? It should be 66 like here in the USA!
budget
My question to the French is who do you expect to pay for the entitlement programs you enjoy. When the rich have moved out of the country, and the businesses have fled due too high taxation, do you think the tax revenue may be hard too find? You people need to face facts. Your government cannot afford to finance your pensions, and your age 60 retirement. Your bloated government payroll is ruining you. You need to encourage businesses to hire and your unions are killing that. And when you need a bailout like Greece, don't come to us. We have our own problems.
I suspect that the life
I suspect that the life expectancy was much lower when the retirement age was set at 60. People live longer now and under the current system it is too expensive to support someone for 20 years or more after they retire.
Failure with a capital F
There's no way any company or country can sustain retired workers at 85% of their pay for 20 or 30 years after retirement. That's a ponzi scheme and a financial lie to tell people it's possible. And the truth of that lie is evident all across the world! So people and unions can protest and strike all they want...the money is GONE! 2-2 = 0
Retire at Age 62
Must be hard to believe that a person has to work until 62 to finally collect a pension. Oh I forgot the month they get off for family vacation. That's right the government is to support them, but wait the government is going bancrupt. WAAAAAA
France, Europe , unions
When politicians negotiate with unions do they nplan to set money aside each year for the pensions or do they simply "kick the can down the road" for the next leader?
It appears the citizens do not understand if actual money isn't set aside in some interest earning fund there will be nothing left. The idea of putting nothing away and having a retirement fund is ludicrous.
France is America's Crystal Ball
If we in America don't put a stop to the thuggery that unions act out here, our future will be as bleak as France's.
62? Mon dieu!
What is wrong with the health of the French that they cannot work into their 60's? Perhaps a longer work week and less vacation time would help the French build some stamina! Really, be serious. 60 is simply too young to retire with benefits. Raise the benefit age to 66 and join the real world.
Feance and its retirement age options
I recommend the entire population review the movie "Soylent Green". Maybe working two years longer is not so bad!
Blame yourselves
Not an ounce of sympathy.
You spent and spent and spent and granted entitlement after entitlement with no way to pay for it and you deserve everything you get.
Retirement Age
I also disagree with the 62 year age requirement for full retirement. It should be set HIGHER to age 66.
Raising Age
Come on Frenchies...get with the rest of the 'real' western nationa and try WORKING for a living!! God, God...do you realize how much tax revenue your country would generate?? And maybe, just maybe, you can afford to PAY BACK THE COUNTRY'S THAT ALMOST WENT BROKE TO KEEP YOU FROM SPAKING GERMAN??
Raise that age to 65 or 67......62?? No big deal...you can just sit on your arses for another 2 years like you have been doing for the pat 50 years!
So Anonyme...you think it
So Anonyme...you think it costs more to pay someone for work you had to create than it does to pay them when they retire??? They both get paid anyways. One just does something productive while the other is sitting at home not being productive.
And guess what... people are not entering the workforce at 60 so the people you are talking about already have the jobs in question. And seriously... what is the difference between someone who is working at 60 and someone working at 62. There is no significant dropoff at this magical age of 60. And since these people are already in their jobs, do you know how ridiculously hard it is to fire someone in France for any reason? If anything, it will be younger people that will have a slight increase in unemployment.
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