French Unions Plan More Protests and Strikes Over Pension Reform

French trade unions have announced a nationwide day of protests on June 6 against President Emmanuel Macron's decision to increase the retirement age by two years to 64. The reform, which Macron signed into law last month despite weeks of protests and strikes, has crystallised discontent against a president perceived by many in France as being aloof and indifferent to their daily hardships. With lawmakers poised to discuss on June 8 a draft bill proposed by the opposition Liot party to cancel the retirement age reform, the unions said in a joint statement that the day of industrial action on June 6 was meant to “allow all workers to make themselves heard by the MPs.”