France Faces a National Strike Wave as Pensions Reform Sparks Widespread Action
On Tuesday, fuel output at every French refinery and traffic flow in several cities were disrupted as mass protests and walkouts unfolded across the country. The coordinated demonstrations are part of a broader push to pressure the government to rethink the pension reform plan.
In a morning interview with France Info, Philippe Martínez, the general secretary of the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), reiterated the unions’ objective: to see the reform project withdrawn. He noted that this marked the sixth day of sustained protests and signaled a new phase in the movement.
Martínez, who leads the country’s second-largest labour federation, described the current phase as one where the unions pursue a unified strategy, encapsulated in the rallying cry to “paralyze the country.”
The plan described by Martínez would imply real-world disruptions across transportation networks, energy and utilities, and waste management, with the private sector also feeling the pressure through targeted strikes.
Asked about the prospect of extending strikes into Wednesday and beyond, Martínez said that such decisions rest with individual companies and not with the unions, even as he acknowledged that votes on action have already taken place within several key sectors, including SNCF, energy providers, and port authorities.
He stressed that responsibility for the unrest lies with the government, accusing it of prompting a social movement by disregarding the concerns of a broad majority of workers who oppose the reform.
Policy Details and Public Response
Emmanuel Macron’s executive bill, currently under parliamentary review, proposes raising the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64 and accelerating the expansion of the qualifying period needed to access full pension benefits, potentially up to 43 years of contributions.
Across France, roughly 320 demonstrations were organized, with police estimates ranging from 1.1 to 1.4 million participants. The Interior Ministry’s figures suggest a turnout near 1.27 million on January 31, a benchmark cited as the largest in recent years.
The disruption to public transportation has been pronounced. SNCF reported that about 80% of high-speed trains (TGV) and nearly all long-distance services were cancelled or severely curtailed, reflecting the scale of the strike’s impact on intercity travel.
International connections also felt the effects: air routes between Paris and major hubs such as Barcelona were halted along with several services between France and Germany. Only a limited number of return trains remained to link France with Italy, and Switzerland-bound services were reduced to roughly 20% of normal levels.
On the European rail network, two-thirds of Eurostar services to London and about two-thirds of Thalys services from Paris to Brussels were suspended. Within and around Paris, a substantial portion of regular traffic was halted or scaled back, with the metro operating a reduced schedule on only a few lines while many lines ran with limited hours or service during peak periods.
In the aviation sector, air traffic controllers’ strikes led to the cancellation of about one-fifth of flights at Charles de Gaulle and roughly a third at other Paris-area airports. Similar disruptions were observed at several regional hubs, including Beauvais, Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Nantes, Marseille, Montpellier, Nice, and Toulouse, highlighting the nationwide reach of the labor action.
Observers note that the strikes have not only disrupted daily routines but have also put pressure on national services to adapt rapidly. The scale of participation underscores a broad public appetite for reexamining pension policy and a willingness to sustain collective action in pursuit of concrete reform.
While the protests have been marked by high visibility in transport and public services, the broader conversation continues to revolve around the balance between fiscal sustainability and worker protections. Government officials have argued that reform is necessary to ensure long-term financial stability, while opponents emphasize the social and economic costs of delaying retirement relief. Analysts and stakeholders alike expect ongoing negotiations and potential face-to-face discussions aimed at narrowing gaps between the two sides, with the goal of reaching a durable agreement that can command public support.
As the week unfolds, the interplay between policy proposals, union mobilization, and government responses will likely shape the media narrative and inform future actions across sectors. The public’s response will also influence how authorities manage traffic, energy supply, and essential services during heightened periods of industrial activity, making the coming days decisive for the pension reform debate.
For observers, the core question remains whether a path to consensus exists that safeguards workers’ earned benefits while addressing the financial realities of aging demographics and evolving economic pressures. The dialogue between policymakers, employers, and labor representatives will be closely watched by audiences across France and beyond, as the reform’s fate continues to unfold in the Parliament and on the streets.