French Workers Strike and Protest Against Plans to Raise Retirement Age

French Workers Strike and Protest , Against Plans to Raise Retirement Age.

Associated Press reports that French President Emmanuel Macron supports raising his country's retirement age from 62 to 64.

In France, everyone receives a state pension, but the country's population is aging and life expectancy is increasing.

Macron maintains that raising the retirement age is the only way to keep the system financially sustainable.

But workers throughout France disagree and took to the streets on Jan.

19 to protest.

Thousands of people in Paris, Marseille, Toulouse, Nantes, Lyon and elsewhere gathered to demonstrate.

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Up to 42% of teachers went on strike, electricity workers said they'd reduce power supplies in protest.

And even some police unions took to the streets in opposition.

The strikes disrupted transportation, schools and more across France.

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The Versailles Palace and some exhibitions at the Louvre have closed due to the protests.

The Versailles Palace and some exhibitions at the Louvre have closed due to the protests.

The Eiffel Tower also warned about possible disruptions.

Unions have proposed more employer payroll contributions or a tax on the wealthy to finance the pension program.

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AP reports that the pension bill will be presented on Jan.

23 and it will go to Parliament next month