French unions strike against Macron

PARIS: Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in the streets of France and strikes caused travel misery for millions in a showdown between trade unions and President Emmanuel Macron that could be decisive for his reform efforts. Seven unions representing staff in the public sector had called for strikes and protests, while a third of railway workers walked out to join the demonstrations against 40-year-old Macron’s bid to shake up the French state. The strikes meant that less than half of the country’s high-speed TGV trains were running, while flights, schools, daycare centres, libraries and other public services such as garbage collection were disturbed.