workingclasshistory:

On this day, 5 December 2019, the first of numerous strikes by French public sector workers began in protest at proposed cuts to pensions. The government of Emmanuel Macron wanted to cut workers’ pensions, increasing normal retirement age for many public sector workers from 62 up to 64, after previous reforms had increased it from 60.
The strike severely disrupted transport, schools, fire services and even shutdown the Eiffel Tower, while hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets, in some places clashing with police.
Opinion polls showed that a 69% of people in France supported strikes, with support especially strong amongst younger workers.
Many transport workers remained on strike for six weeks, while other groups of workers, like ballerinas, took sporadic action until the government agreed to suspend its plans in January, pending a report later in the year.
Pictured: striking ballerinas give a public performance to other strikers. https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/1869374639914344/?type=3