Workers in France striking to defend their retirements
(May 27, 2010) French President Nicolas Sarkozy, in an effort to reduce France’s budget deficit is planning to raise the retirement age by 1-3 years from 60, and to extend the required pension contribution period. He has said that pushing up the retirement age would be his government’s key reform for this year.
“Many people are furious that Mr Sarkozy said there was no money left to raise wages and consumer spending power, but nonetheless managed to find billions of euros to bail out floundering French banks, says the BBC’s Emma-Jane Kirby in Paris.”
Worker protests in France come only weeks after Greek workers protested violently to hold on to their retirements. In both cases, governments in Athens and Paris decided to sacrifice their citizens retirements, to placate and payoff bankers.
Meanwhile, over here in the United States, the Obama administration is openly planning to reduce the deficit by reducing retirement benefits, hundreds of thousands of state and local government workers are being laid off, those that remain are being forced to give up their pensions, and there are no significant protests, marches, or strikes, while bailed-out bankers enjoy billion dollar bonuses. Why?
Update: June27, 2010 – At least a million French students took to the streets this weekend to protest Sarkozy’s plans to raise the retirement age in France. Full Story. Meanwhile, American workers and students sit idly bye, as their retirements get twittered away.
Also Read:
Stop The Budget Deficit Commission
Your Greek Retirement
Obama Wants Your Retirement
Visit the Early Retirement Website and learn How to Retire Early by Going Green.
1 response so far ↓
1 Stan Squires // Oct 19, 2010 at 10:19 am
I am from vancouver,canada and i supports the workers and students that are on strike in France.This is an important fight between capital and labour that needs to be won by the working class.This will effect workers every where in the world.The workers in France should be allowed to retire at 60 yrs. of age.They had to fight for this right and they should be allowed to keep it.
The working class will have to take political power into their own hands so that things will be done for the good of the people instead of for private interests.Good Luck to the workers and students.
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