Paris subway shut down due to a strike

Movement along 5 subway lines — 2, 8, 10, 11 and 12 — has been completely paralyzed. Nine other lines will only work during peak hours in the morning and evening. This is not the first time the unions have gone on strike demanding higher wages and more hires. Not long ago rail links between France and Luxembourg suffered greatly from strikes like this one.

However, as it turned out, this time salaries are not the only issue. This is trade union leaders’ way of putting pressure upon Emmanuel Macron. The politician plans to carry out a controversial pension reform by raising the retirement age by 2-3 years. And although the subway strike is still caused by dissatisfaction with the transport system, some unions are calling for a hardline opposition to the reform supported by strikes throughout the country.