2010 French pension reform strikes

General strikes and demonstrations October 2020 thumb|The French Union Solidaires protesting in the Place du Martroi in Orléans The 2010 pension reform strikes in France were a series of general strikes and demonstrations which occurred in France throughout September and October 2010. They involved union members from both the private and public sectors protesting in cities, including Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Paris, Toulouse, Montpellier and Strasbourg, against a proposal by the French government to raise the normal retirement age for public pensions from 65 to 67 and early reduced pensions from age 60 to 62, which the Assemblée nationale has approved,http://www.france24.com/en/20101017-france-faces-further-disruption-after-weekend-protests-strikes-pension-reform More disruptions expected after weekend protests 18 October 2010 France 24 21 October 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101020092208/http://www.france24.com/en/20101017-france-faces-further-disruption-after-weekend-protests-strikes-pension-reform 20 October 2010 live while temporary pre-crisis taxes cuts are maintained for the benefit of the richest individuals and companies, and top government officials are subject to an ongoing corruption inquiry.http://resultat-exploitations.blogs.liberation.fr/finances/2010/10/niche-cope.html Niche Copé: le bouclier fiscal puissance 10 21 October 2010 2010-10-25 French Liberation.fr https://web.archive.org/web/20101024082901/http://resultat-exploitations.blogs.liberation.fr/finances/2010/10/niche-cope.html 24 October 2010 live Those who object to the changes say the poorest will be most affected by them.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11460050 French hold a third day of protest against pension reform 2 October 2010 BBC News BBC 2 October 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101003044643/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11460050 3 October 2010 live The strikes have led to a reduction in public transport services, motorway blockages by lorry drivers and disruption to oil deliveries to refineries leading to a national fuel shortage.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11573091 Q&A: French strikes over pension reforms 22 October 2010 BBC United Kingdom 2010-10-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20101022054341/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11573091 22 October 2010 live French students also joined the workers in the protests with barricades being built at around 400 high schools across the country in order to try to prevent other pupils attending classes.http://www.france24.com/en/20101011-france-faces-further-pension-reform-strikes-protests-retirement-age Youth join pension reform protests 12 October 2010 2010-10-24 France 24 https://web.archive.org/web/20101021132837/http://www.france24.com/en/20101011-france-faces-further-pension-reform-strikes-protests-retirement-age 21 October 2010 live The strikes have been compared to the popularly supported 1995 strikes in France, with 70% of respondents to one poll suggesting the 2010 strikes would swell into a national movement akin to 1995, and a majority expressing support for such an event.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11559265 France hit by new wave of mass pension protests 16 October 2010 BBC News BBC 16 October 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101017050656/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11559265 17 October 2010 live CGT secretary Bernard Thibault, one of the main trade union leaders, commented to La Chaîne Info: "There have never since 1995 been as many protesters ... from both the public and private sectors, and now from all generations. The government is betting on this movement deteriorating, even breaking down. I think we have the means to disappoint them." Reasons for the strikes thumb|Demonstration in Orléans, 12 October In 2007, the French government undertook a general review of its public policies (see French General Review of Public Policies) and one of the key proposals made in order to reduce government expenditure includes postponing the national retirement age.October 2010 Immediate In 1983, François Mitterrand's government reduced the retirement age from 65 to 60.Sorman Guy France's Perpetual Revolution https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304741404575564354040144426 The Wall Street Journal 24 October 2010 21 October 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101024043805/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304741404575564354040144426.html 24 October 2010 live The current government plans to raise the normal retirement age for public pensions from 65 to 67 and early reduced pensions from age 60 to 62. This may allow a reduction in public spending. Some people in the working population are opposed to this change. Workers' associations thus organized several strikes. Longer-term The size of the strikes also reflects a broader discontent with Sarkozy,Cody Edward France in turmoil as nationwide strike over pension reform stretches on https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/21/AR2010102103924.html?hpid=moreheadlines The Washington Post 22 October 2010 23 October 2010 with dissatisfaction and mistrust in the government approach for several reasons. thumb|Protest in Paris, 16 October 2010. Tax reductions In recent years, and despite the financial crisis, the government has maintained tax cuts for the richest households and companies. A report from the French control department announce that 172 billions €/year are not perceived due to enterprises taxes reductions.Niches: 71 milliards sous le tapis http://resultat-exploitations.blogs.liberation.fr/finances/2010/10/niches2.html Nicolas Quint 12 October 2010 29 October 2010 26 October 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101026135944/http://resultat-exploitations.blogs.liberation.fr/finances/2010/10/niches2.html dead citing Entreprises et "Niches" Fiscales et Sociales, Des dispositifs dérogatoires nombreux http://www.ccomptes.fr/fr/CPO/documents/divers/Rapport_de_synthese_Entreprises_et_niches_fiscales_et_sociales2.pdf Court des Comptes Court des Comptes 2010 29 October 2010September 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes French people are confused by the government's reasoning that social spending should be cut because of the lack of money, while pre-crisis special tax cuts are maintained for the richest companieshttp://resultat-exploitations.blogs.liberation.fr/finances/2010/10/niche-cope.html Niche Copé: le bouclier fiscal puissance 10 21 October 2010 French 22 October 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101024082901/http://resultat-exploitations.blogs.liberation.fr/finances/2010/10/niche-cope.html 24 October 2010 live and taxpayers.See: Bouclier fiscal and Impôt de solidarité sur la fortuneOctober 2010 The 2005 pre-crisis Copé tax cut generated a €22 billion loss in revenue over 3 years, to the benefit of major companies, as opposed to the €1 billion formerly expected. A report by the Conseil des prélèvements obligatoires calculated the real tax rate for major companies, claimed to be about 33%, to actually be approximately 13%,Martine Orange, « Fiscalité: ces niches si favorables aux entreprises », Mediapart, 7 October 2010. thanks to tax deductions. The cancellation of some of those tax deductions for companies could put €15 to €29 billion a year back into French public finances. Youth thumb|Students blockade Victor Hugo High School in Besançon-Planoise on 14 October 2010 There are concerns the proposals may have a negative effect on the job market, particularly for young workers. The reform may reduce job opportunities by 1 million and has led some students to join the protests.http://www.france24.com/en/20101021-france-student-unions-strike-pension-reform Students rally as unions threaten further pension strikes 21 October 2010 France24.com 23 October 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101024005142/http://www.france24.com/en/20101021-france-student-unions-strike-pension-reform 24 October 2010 live For the French sociologist Louis Chauvel, due to demographic and economic history, the younger generation is in a specifically difficult situation. The jobless rate for youth (-25 years old) in France has been higher than 20% since 1980, reaching 26% in 2009.http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/chat/2010/10/14/lyceens-etudiants-pourquoi-sont-ils-dans-la-rue_1426307_823448.html Louis Chauvel Le Monde 14 October 2010 Les lycées et les universités de masse sont de la nitroglycérine pour tout gouvernement French 25 October 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101021063612/http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/chat/2010/10/14/lyceens-etudiants-pourquoi-sont-ils-dans-la-rue_1426307_823448.html 21 October 2010 live Despite the common appeasing promise than the job market would expand when babyboomers retire (2005–2020), the global crisis came, and retirement reforms plan to keep about 1 million more workers on the market. Other problems include repetitive poorly paid internships, job instability and lower incomes, while the qualifications and skills required for vacancies are ever-increasing, requiring several more years of education and financial investment than for previous generations, while postponing savings and contributions to the retirement insurance system. Moreover, rental costs for housing and relatively lower incomes reduce the quality of housing conditions. These tensions are fuelling anti-government feeling and the strike itself. Overview of events DateParticipants-lower estimatehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11580492 French police frustrated by new strike blockades 20 October 2010 BBC News BBC 20 October 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101020043401/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11580492 20 October 2010 liveParticipants-upper estimate 23 March 2010 395 thousand 800 thousand 1 May 2010 300 thousand 27 May 2010 395 thousand 1.0 million 15 June 2010 23 thousand 70 thousand 24 June 2010 700 thousand 1.92 million 7 Sept 2010 1.2 million 2.7 million 23 Sept 2010 1 million 3 million 2 Oct 2010 0.9 million 3 million 12 Oct 2010 1.2 million 3.5 million 16 Oct 2010 0.8 million 3 million 19 Oct 2010 1.1 million 3.5 million 28 Oct 2010 560 thousand 2 million 6 Nov 2010 375 thousand 1.2 million 23 Nov 2010 52 thousand French union leaders initially organised fourteen days of nationwide strikes and demonstrations, on Tuesday 7 September, Thursday 23 September, Saturday 2 October, Tuesday 12 October and Saturday 16 October, and Tuesday 19 October. The figures regarding the number of participants vary widely, with numbers being reported by the French Interior Ministry, police, and unions. The second day of strikes saw the cancellation of as many as 50% of flights at airports in Paris and other cities.http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/09/201092383449360925.html French unions in new set of strikes 24 September 2010 Al Jazeera 24 September 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100924173948/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/09/201092383449360925.html 24 September 2010 live Half the country's long-distance trains were cancelled.http://www.france24.com/en/20100922-france-faces-fresh-wave-strikes-over-pensions-reform-sarkozy-transport-protests Unions in fresh wave of strikes over bill to raise retirement age 23 September 2010 France 24 23 September 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100924102033/http://www.france24.com/en/20100922-france-faces-fresh-wave-strikes-over-pensions-reform-sarkozy-transport-protests 24 September 2010 live A prolonged strike by garbage collectors led to a build-up of trash around the port of Marseille. The strike has lasted for at least three weeks.http://www.euronews.net/2010/10/12/french-workers-strike-against-pension-reforms/ French workers strike against pension reforms 12 October 2010 euronews 12 October 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101014135220/http://www.euronews.net/2010/10/12/french-workers-strike-against-pension-reforms/ 14 October 2010 live All twelve fuel refineries on the French mainland have been affected by the strike. As a result, one in four fuel stations across the country has run dry. Students began to participate in the demonstrations during October, with 1 in every 15 schools in the country affected by the middle of the month. Police fired rubber bullets in Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, causing a 16-year-old student to nearly lose an eye, with other students reported to have also been injured. Police sprayed tear gas on young protesters in Lyon, which was captured by television cameras. Families and children came to the fore on the third day, the first occasion on which a demonstration occurred on a Saturday.http://uk.reuters.com/article/france-pensions-protests-idUKLDE69106D20101002 https://web.archive.org/web/20170404043915/http://uk.reuters.com/article/france-pensions-protests-idUKLDE69106D20101002 dead 4 April 2017 Students and families join French pension protests 2 October 2010 Reuters 2 October 2010 John Irish The fifth day of strikes caused the French government to publicly admit that Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport was rapidly running out of fuel, though it did advise people "not to panic".http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/10/2010101693038837272.html Paris airport running short on fuel 16 October 2010 Al Jazeera 16 October 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101017164627/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/10/2010101693038837272.html 17 October 2010 livehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11557240 Paris airport fuel running short amid pension strikes 16 October 2010 BBC News BBC 16 October 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101016045114/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11557240 16 October 2010 live Reaction by the French government As a result of the strike action there have been minor concessions and amendments made to the pension proposals. President Nicolas Sarkozy said some mothers would be able to receive a full pension even if they had taken years out of work to look after children. However, the government maintains that the core of the proposed reform will not be changed. See also 2006 youth protests in France 2019 French pension reform strike Crisis situations and protests in Europe since 2000 May 2010 Greek protests Pensions in France Protests against Emmanuel Macron 2023 French pension reform strikes References External links France Is Burning: 2010 Protests https://web.archive.org/web/20101023091813/http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/51441/france-is-burning-2010-protests 23 October 2010 - slideshow by Life magazine West Bank on the Left Bank - slideshow by Foreign Policy magazine In France, Protests Over Austerity Measures - slideshow by The New York Times Category:2010 protests Pension Reform Strikes Category:2010 labor disputes and strikes Pension reform strikes Pension reform strikes Pension reform Category:Contemporary French history 2010 strikes Pension Category:Nicolas Sarkozy Category:2010 in French politics