French take to streets to protest pension plan

French unions staged nationwide protests yesterday against plans by President Nicolas Sarkozy to make people work longer to qualify for a full pension.

In a rare show of unity, France's five largest unions called on members to take to the streets in dozens of cities to denounce the government's decision to require employees to work 41 years before retiring against 40 years at present.

Early indications suggested that the day of action was having a limited impact, with public transport in France's two main cities, Paris and Lyon, little affected, and most major rail links running without delays.