A demonstrators set up a barricade and light fire during a protest against pension reform plans in Paris, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019. Thousands of protesters opposed to the French government's plan to revamp the retirement system marched through Paris on Saturday, the 14th day of crippling strikes. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
The Associated Press
PARIS (AP) - Thousands of protesters opposed to the French government's plan to revamp the retirement system marched through Paris on Saturday, the 24th day of crippling strikes.
In an unusual gesture, unions organizing the march asked yellow vest protesters to join them. The march coincided with the 59th consecutive Saturday of marches by the yellow vest movement that seeks social and economic justice.
Brief scuffles marred the union march as individuals, some wearing masks, burned construction materials along the route. The march went from the Gare du Nord train station to Chatelet in central Paris.
'œWhatever the color of the vest, we must stick together,'ť the leader of the hard-left CGT union Philippe Martinez said on BFMTV, referring to the several hundred yellow vests who joined the march.
President Emmanuel Macron wants to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 and rid the complex system of 42 special categories, notably railway and bus and Metro employees, with their own rules.
The strikes have disrupted transport across France and beyond, hobbling Paris Metros and trains across the country as well as businesses. The strikes have been especially felt over the holiday season.
On Saturday, the SNCF train authority said only six of 10 high-speed trains were running. The Eurostar from Paris to London had four of five trains running. Paris Metro service was improving, with partial service on several lines that had been shut down from the start. Only two lines, both automatic, ran without problem.
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe plans to continue talks with unions after a holiday break. The unions plan a major day of action on Jan. 9.
Trade union demonstrators gather in Bayonne, southwestern France, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019. France's punishing transportation troubles may ease up slightly over Christmas, but unions plan renewed strikes and protests in January to resist government plans to raise the retirement age to 64. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)
The Associated Press
A demonstrator holds a French flag as he faces police officers during a protest against pension reform plans in Paris, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019. Thousands of protesters opposed to the French government's plan to revamp the retirement system marched through Paris on Saturday, the 24th day of crippling strikes. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
The Associated Press
Trade union demonstrators in Bayonne, southwestern France, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019. France's punishing transportation troubles may ease up slightly over Christmas, but unions plan renewed strikes and protests in January to resist government plans to raise the retirement age to 64. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)
The Associated Press
A woman rides a scooter at Gare Montparnasse station in Paris, Friday, Dec. 27, 2019. French union activists are disrupting two of the country's eight oil refineries as part of nationwide strikes against a higher retirement age that have lasted for 23 days, the longest such walkout in decades. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
The Associated Press
Demonstrators run away from teargas fired by police during a protest against pension reform plans in Paris, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019. Thousands of protesters opposed to the French government's plan to revamp the retirement system marched through Paris on Saturday, the 24th day of crippling strikes. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
The Associated Press
Demonstrators run away from teargas fired by police during a protest against pension reform plans in Paris, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019. Thousands of protesters opposed to the French government's plan to revamp the retirement system marched through Paris on Saturday, the 24th day of crippling strikes. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
The Associated Press