The union leader heading protests against France’s bitterly contested pension reforms has accused Emmanuel Macron of playing with fire and showing contempt for the country’s workers. He defended electricity workers who pulled the plug on homes and businesses last week, warning that forcing pension reforms through against public opposition could boost the far right. Making French workers work longer is, in another word, “unacceptable”, he says. Opinion polls may show Martinez only slightly more popular than Macron, but back on the streets he is, like Asterix, the people’s hero. That might be some time, warns Martinez, whose union has called for three more days of action this week.

Source: The Guardian January 25, 2020 17:37 UTC