By:  Gloribelle Perez

Pace International Law Review, Executive Editor

 

French unions strike over pension reform

In an effort to control the current budget deficit, the French government recently unveiled plans to increase the minimum retirement age from 60 to 62 by 2018.  Union workers throughout the country responded to the news by participating in strikes, donning the pension reforms as unfair. 

On June 24th, 2010, French union workers participated in a nationwide strike that included transport workers, civil servants and teachers.  Even those in the private sector participated.   

It’s apparent that the financial crisis that brought the world to a standstill continues to wreak havoc.  According to the French government, if changes such as the planned pension reform are not implemented, then the nation would endure annual deficits of about 100 billion Euros by 2050.  With the reform scheduled to go to parliament for approval in September, unions are planning additional protests to display their disapproval of the government plans and desire to see the reform be overturned.