French strike to save 'birthright' of privileges

For most Frenchmen and women, social benefits like long vacations, state-subsidized health care and early retirement mean more than mere luxuries. For them, such things are a birthright and regarded as an important part of present France’s identity.

There have been protests and strife against the government which plans to increase the age of retirement up to 62 years. There have demonstrations on the streets of Marseille by five members of the Eric Gilly clan.

Their demand is that the retirement age should be kept at 60 years. It is not just about luxury, but also something that their parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents had fought for in the past. At present, these people are seeing that they are losing all that they have fought for. They are not ready to accept this.

For the purpose of the protest against President Nicolas Sarkozy's new retirement plan in Marseille, docks have been closed and huge amounts of garbage have been left on sidewalks. The protest has attracted ten thousands of protestors onto the streets since September.

Retirement, by these people, is held higher than a higher salary, thereby making this issue a significantly sensitive one.


FrenchTribune Specials

Acceleration is Key to Cheetah’s Swiftness

If anything that goes with cheetah then it is nothing but speed. Recently, a research has been carried out to know what make cheetahs so fast. It was initially considered that it would be speed, but study researchers came up with a different answer.

A group of researchers from the Royal Veterinary College at the University of London...

Most Popular

Global Warming Agreement 2015 in Pipeline

The international agreement proposed for regulating the...

Alligator spotted near Peconic River

Wildlife veterans are on a hunt for a four-foot-long...

Graphene has Great Characteristics

Graphene was discovered in 2004 by Andre Geim and...

Post of Hairless Squirrel on Reddit leads many to misidentify it

The pictures of hairless Fox Squirrel fooled many Reddit...

Poll

Can Greece Come out of Economic Problems: