French unions still in war! by Barbora Misakova

No one wants to capitulate. While Nicolas Sharkozy says he understands striking people and he has no right to criticize them, he will never let them to hold ordinary people and the French economy as hostages. Union resistance is still tough. Streets of Lyon are full of destroyed cars and broken displays. Policemen have arrested more than 2,000 people yet, but as it seems, the “war” will keep continuing. Overhauling of the pension system is vital to ensuring that future generations receive any pensions at all, says Sarkozy. It is a choice many European governments are facing as populations live longer and government debts soar. But French unions are defending. By! their words, retirement at 60 is a hard-earned right and it will not be abandoned so easily. They not only claim that the working class will be unfairly punished by the pension reform, but they also fear it will be the first step in ending an entire network of benefits. The biggest threat of this year’s strike is the luck of oil. As the strikers are blockading two key oil terminals, the problem isn’t so much finding the oil, but getting it in to the country, said Jean-Louis Schilansky, the head of the national petroleum industry body. The gas and oil shortages have hit many sectors of the French economy. As the unions announced two more days of protest nationwide – next week and the week after, maybe the government’s prediction of 2 percent economic growth next year will not be fulfilled that easily.

related story (sgx18469): http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_france_retirement_strikes;_ylt...

by Barbora Misakova for Cantell TV (http://cantell.tv)

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