French Unions Protesting Pension Reform

by Amanda Griffin-Johnson Over the weekend, unions in France protested pension reform plans, which include raising the retirement age from 60 to 62. The reforms are an effort to maintain France’s AAA credit rating and limit the growing public debt. But the reforms are rubbing some the wrong way. Reuters reports: The unions and the left-wing opposition say the...

by Amanda Griffin-Johnson

Over the weekend, unions in France protested pension reform plans, which include raising the retirement age from 60 to 62. The reforms are an effort to maintain France’s AAA credit rating and limit the growing public debt. But the reforms are rubbing some the wrong way. Reuters reports:

The unions and the left-wing opposition say the plans to raise the retirement age, raise civil servants’ contributions to private sector levels and make people work longer for a full pension are unjust.

“I am listening to the protesters, I understand their anger, but the role of the head of state is to fulfill his responsibilities,” Sarkozy said on Friday. “The pension reform and budget cuts are essential for our competitiveness.”

Raising civil servants’ contributions to private sector levels is unjust? What is fair or just for the taxpayers to endure? Here in Illinois, pension reform is necessary to maintain the state’s promises to government workers while honoring its responsibilities to taxpayers. These reforms and other common sense solutions can help turn our state around. You can read the full Reuters article here