Macron urges transport unions to suspend strikes during Christmas
French President Emmanuel Macron has called on transport unions to suspend strikes over his government's pension reform during the Christmas holidays to avoid travel disruption.
"Strike action is justifiable and protected by the Constitution, but I think there are moments in a nation's life when it is good to observe a truce out of respect for families and family life," Macron told a news conference with Ivorian counterpart Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan.
Two weeks of nationwide industrial action against Macron's planned overhaul of the pension system, including the scrapping of special regimes for sectors like the railways, have crippled train services.
Macron said a strike pause would not mean unions had abandoned their demands, but would show "the sense of responsibility and the respect owed to French people who are sometimes apart and wish to be reunited during this festive period."
Despite calls by some unions to suspend strikes during the festive season, several rail worker groups are continuing stoppages as travelers head off on holiday.
National rail operator SNCF continued to run reduced services on Saturday, including half the usual number of its high-speed TGV trains, while half of metro lines in Paris were closed.
President Macron's government insists the pension reforms will make for a fairer system and help erase pension system deficits forecast to reach as much as 17 billion euros ($19 billion) by 2025.
The average French person retires at just over 60, years earlier than most in Europe or other rich OECD countries.
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