Strikes to continue in France over pension reform bill

By the CNN Wire Staff

October 21, 2010 -- Updated 0525 GMT (1325 HKT)

Paris, France (CNN) -- Strikes and demonstrations are expected to continue across France on Thursday with a large rally scheduled in central Paris in the afternoon.

The demonstrators are rallying against a government proposal to raise the national retirement age from 60 to 62.

The French Senate is working its way through roughly 1,000 amendments to the pension reform bill, and a final vote on the bill could be as early as Thursday and as late as Sunday.

The lower house of parliament has already passed it, by a vote of 329 to 233.

If there are substantial differences between the Senate and National Assembly versions, a conference committee will have to iron them out before the final version goes to the president.

France has been reeling from strikes.

Police and protesters clashed Wednesday, and on Tuesday 428 people were arrested in connection with the protests.The strikers have crippled transportation, and affected schools and fuel supplies.

About 1.1 million people have demonstrated across the country, French media quoted police as saying. Unions put the figure at 3.5 million nationwide as the rolling strikegoes on for more than a week now.

Students from high schools have been skipping classes to join the strikes. Some students told CNN in Paris that they are worried they won't be able to get jobs if the current generation hangs onto jobs for an extra two years.

Later Wednesday, French authorities unblocked three fuel depots after the president ordered police to break blockades at the sites by strikers.

"We did it because the west of France is threatened by a very severe shortage of fuel. The opening of these three depots was essential and will gradually allow normal activity to resume," Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux said.

There are 219 fuel depots in France. In addition to the three, 21 fuel depots have been unblocked between Friday and Tuesday.

The French government contends that the country cannot afford the earlier retirement payments.

"I will implement the pension reform because my duty as head of state is to ensure that French people and their children can count on retirement and that the amount they receive will be maintained," French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Wednesday.