Macron said in a traditional New Year’s Eve address on Tuesday that he expected his government to quickly find a compromise with unions on the reform, but without departing from the principles laid out by ministers, Reuters reported.
Unions are trying to force the former investment banker to abandon his overhaul of France’s pension system with nationwide strikes since Dec. 5 that have crippled public transport.
“I was under the impression of having heard these words a thousand times,” Philippe Martinez, the head of the CGT union, told BFM television of Macron’s address.
“I still do not see anything new in the government’s position. The alarm signal needs to be louder, we need strikes everywhere,” Martinez said.
Martinez said his organization would take part in a meeting between unions and the government on Jan. 7.