NPR

National Strike In France Shuts Down Cities Over Macron's Pension Reform Plans

Thousands of people march in the streets of Paris, Lyon, Marseille and other French cities, in a general strike that reflects anger both at Macron and his retirement plan.
A protester walks through a cloud of tear gas during a demonstration against national pension changes in Nantes, France, on Thursday.

Thousands of people are marching in the streets of Paris, Lyon, Marseilles and other French cities Thursday, as more than 30 unions launch a massive workers' strike that's meant to shut down the country and force President Emmanuel Macron to reevaluate his plans for pension reform.

The strike is being compared to the crippling protests of 1995, which

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR11 min read
Kenya's Samburu Boys Share A Sacred Bond. Why One Teen Broke With The Brotherhood
After initiation rites – including circumcision – the boys leave their families to take charge of the herds, driving them high into the mountains. It's a way of life that climate change is testing.
NPR2 min read
Short-term Loss For Long-term Gain? The Ethical Dilemma At The Heart Of EVs
As mines meet mineral demands for electric vehicles, they put communities and ecosystems at risk. Sustainability researcher Elsa Dominish says the EV industry cannot repeat fossil fuel's mistakes.
NPR5 min readWorld
Putin Replaces His Defense Minister As He Starts His 5th Term In Office
Putin proposed Andrei Belousov, who until recently served as the first deputy prime minister, to replace Sergei Shoigu in a Cabinet shakeup.

Related Books & Audiobooks