French transport strike drags on despite govt compromise on pensions

A crippling French transport strike dragged into its 39th day on Jan. 12 despite the government's offer to withdraw the most contested measure of the pension reform plans that sparked the protest.    

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Jan. 11 that he would drop plans to increase the official age for a full pension to 64 from 62 in an effort to end a strike which has paralyzed Paris and its suburbs, with bus, train and metro services all badly disrupted.    

French President Emmanuel Macron called the change "a constructive and responsible compromise".    

Philippe late on Jan. 12 called on the unions to take "responsibility".    

"Those who incite (the strikers) to continue the strike are leading them perhaps into a dead-end... I think that they need to assume their responsibilities," Philippe said in a television interview.  

The more reformist trade unions -- the FDT, Unsa and FRC -- welcomed the compromise announcement and said they were now ready to work with employers on the sustainable financing of the state pension system.    

The Unsa union for national railway workers maintained its strike call on Jan. 12 while recognising the government's reconciliatory move.    

The union "remains on strike " but will return to the negotiating table, secretary-general Didier Mathis told AFP.  

However, the more hardline CGT, FO, and Solidaires unions were standing firm, calling for the strike and protests to continue, including a major demonstration on January 16.

French rail operator the SNCF said it expected services to improve on Jan. 12.    

Nine of 10 high-speed TGV trains would run on French and international routes, it said -- and commuters in and around Paris could expect seven out of 10...