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Strikes will go ahead in France on 23 September following change to pension age

The planned strikes for 23 September will definitely go ahead following a vote by French MP’s approving an increase in the retirement age in France.

The French MP’s have agreed that the retirement age will increase gradually between now and 2018.  Every year, four months will be added to the legal retirement age, until in 2018 it reaches the age of sixty two.  The same rules will apply to civil service employees.

The strikes on 7 September were hailed as a success by the unions, with a claimed turnout of around 2.7 million.  The unions will be hoping for an even better result on the 23rd now that the changes have been approved.

The retirement age was only reduced back in 1983 by then President, François Mitterrand reduced the age from sixty five to sixty.  Government opposition, the Socialist Party have promised to reduce the retirement age if they are elected in the next general election.

The issue looks set to be hard fought on both sides and at the moment, there is no talk of compromise.

In the UK, unions are preparing for a long battle with the government over public spending cuts, possibly leading to a very unsettled winter in both countries.

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