NPR's Stacey Vanek Smith has the story. BBC News. 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. The plan is also seen by many as endangering the welfare state thats central to French society. Many are now wondering what would happen if the U.S., already with one of the world's highest retirement ages to collect full benefits (67 for everyone by 2027, still earlier for those born prior to 1960), eventually increases it. 1996 - 2023 NewsHour Productions LLC. First, advertising dollars go up and down with the economy. More than half the worlds population sees AP journalism every day. The official retirement age in the U.S. is now 67, and countries across Europe have been raising pension ages as populations grow older and fertility rates drop. Im scared of the future when Ill be older and have to retire., Sylvie Bchard, a 59-year-old nurse, said that she joined the march because we, health care workers, are physically exhausted.. But they do offer a warning to those Republicans who have been agitating for reforms to Social Security, which they have also misleadingly framed as the only means of ensuring the programs survival. You can also contribute via. French Labor Minister Olivier Dussopt acknowledged concerns prompted by the pension plans but said the government rejected other options involving raising taxes which he said would hurt the economy and cost jobs or reducing pensions. CIGAINERO: Yeah. The new law is a priority of President Emmanuel Macron, who used a constitutional loophole to force the change into effect after it became apparent parliament would reject it. Write to Simmone Shah at simmone.shah@time.com. CIGAINERO: So leftist politician Jean-Luc Melenchon said on Twitter that the ruling showed the council is more at the service of what he called the, quote, "presidential monarchy" rather than the sovereign people. VANEK SMITH: Salanie says some kind of reform is needed for the pension system. About 6 percent of Americans earn more than that amount. hide caption. All of this is happening against the background of a cost of living crisis, says Bieler. "While the (president) tries to turn the page, this social and union movement confirms the determination of the world of workers and youth to obtain the withdrawal of the reform," the eight unions organizing protests said in a statement. But Macron has said he doesn't really care about the price of unpopularity. PARKS: Are we already seeing protests in response to all this? As Macron spoke, riot police pushed back against some protesters throwing projectiles on the sidelines of the largely peaceful Paris march. He's doing this in a nation that's long been perceived to take a. Being 'ready' involves more than just waiting as long as possible to start collecting your Social Security benefits. Laurent Berger, head of the more moderate CFDT union, called the reform unfair and said Thursdays show of resistance was a warning sign. Losing our social achievements could happen so fast. Workers in many French cities took to the streets Thursday to reject proposed pension changes that would push back the retirement age, amid a day of nationwide strikes and protests seen as a major test for Emmanuel Macron and his presidency. So I feel like that process kind of shows how unpopular a move this is in France. The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Many workers feel the change would be a first step in eroding France's social benefits which include long vacations, contracts that make it hard for employers to lay off workers and a state-subsidized health care system in favor of "American-style capitalism.". Obamas personal chef drowns on Marthas Vineyard, Indonesian police crack down on traffickers who sent 122 people to sell their kidneys in Cambodia, Europes strategy to boost its computer chip industry and compete with Asia gets final approval, US-born Sarina Bolden now a Womens World Cup star for the Philippines with winning goal, Thai Parliament postpones vote to select new prime minister pending court ruling. But the government forced it through using a special constitutional measure. After all, some of the only countries that pay out more of their country's wealth to retired people are Greece and Italy, both of which are in dire economic straits. Its the same conversation in the sense because its a way to cut benefits, said Alicia Munnell, director of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. To see so many people today gives me hope, said 38-year-old Sarah Durieux. The protests tangled traffic to the airport and some passengers walked hundreds of meters (yards) along an emergency lane to get there, dragging suitcases behind them. (And no matter how our work is funded, we have strict guidelines on editorial independence.) The Education Ministry said more than a third of teachers were on strike, and national electricity company EDF announced that power supplies were substantially reduced Thursday amid the strikes. In the northern suburbs of Paris, several dozen union members blocked a bus depot in Pantin, preventing about 200 vehicles from getting out during rush hour. Its certainly a best practice to consult with a financial adviser in order to make the right decisions based on your specific situation. Sarina Bolden rose above two defenders and headed the ball toward the goal. Frances size and strong unions help with protest cohesion, and the US has struggled to maintain intense public protests over time in recent decades. When theres a strike, they better focus on what the citizens taking action have to say, said Phillippe Martinez, the Secretary General of the CNT trade union. Things have gotten loud this week. Riot police in black body armor forced striking workers away from blocked fuel depots in western France, restoring gasoline to areas where pumps were dry after weeks of protests over the government proposal raising the age from 60 to 62. He claimed in a television appearance Wednesday that he needed to convince the public that the reforms were necessary to save what he frames as the countrys endangered pension system, especially given higher life expectancy. Be sure youre working with a professional who can guide you most effectively to maximize your Social Security benefits. We are convinced that the government will step back only if we block the economy, said Xavier Bregail, a 40-year-old train driver in northern Paris. They're not judges. Nathan Arsac, 19, a student and member of the UNEF union, said: Im afraid of whats going to happen next. Germany's retirement age is currently 67, but the country is considering raising their . That's how important this reform is to him. Or do you want to enjoy life? asked Fabien Villedieu, a 45-year-old railway worker. After months of largely peaceful disruptions, some protests erupted into scattered violence this week over the government's push to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62. Protests over raising the age of retirement continue in France. If the no-confidence votes fail, the bill becomes law. Protesters run amid the tear gas during a demonstration in Lyon, central France, Thursday, March 23, 2023. This past April, the French . Remember this important caveat: These tips are general in nature. "We will use all means necessary to get these delinquents," including the GIGN paramilitary police, he said. The government must withdraw its project now, unions demanded after an evening meeting to decide their course of action. Workers in many French cities took to the streets Thursday to reject proposed pension changes that would push back the retirement age, amid a day of nationwide strikes and protests seen as a major test for Emmanuel Macron and his presidency. PARIS (AP) Angry protesters took to the streets in Paris and other cities for a second day on Friday, trying to pressure lawmakers to bring down French President Emmanuel Macrons government and doom the unpopular retirement age increase hes trying to impose without a vote in the National Assembly. Also, even if youre divorced or widowed, you can still claim Social Security benefits on your ex or deceased spouse, as long as you were married for 10 years or more. Strikes upended travel as protesters blockaded train stations, Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, refineries and ports. But for those who cant or dont want to wait, there are other planning options. Jake Cigainero is in Paris, and he joins us now. It is unrealistic to say youre not going to touch entitlements. Though an American can start claiming benefits as early as 62, they will only reap their highest monthly benefits at age 70 under the Delayed Retirement Credit, which was implemented in the early 1970s. The U.S., by contrast, devotes about 7% of economic output to retirees. Figures from government statistics agency Insee showed that in 2009-2013, the latest period studied, the life expectancy of unskilled male workers was 6.4 years below that of men in management positions compared with 3.2 years of difference for women. Paris/London CNN Strikes disrupted train services, flights, schools and businesses in France on Thursday as more than one million people protested against the government's plans to raise the. But, you know, May 1, which is Labor Day here in France, is just around the corner, and it's always a big day for demonstrations. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have proposed making people who earn over $250,000 pay Social Security taxes on their income, as well as subject investment and business income to Social Security taxes. SALANIE: I mean, they dislike fat cats in general and SALANIE: They think they should be paying a higher share. Demonstrators were marching across France on Tuesday in a new round of protests and strikes against the government's plan to raise the retirement age to 64, in what unions hope to be their biggest show of force against the . PARIS More than 1 million people demonstrated across France on Thursday against unpopular pension reforms, and violence erupted in some places as unions called for new nationwide strikes and protests next week, coinciding with King Charles III's planned visit to France. French President Emmanuel Macron has enacted controversial new reforms that raise the retirement age in France from 62 to 64. Macron says the measure - a central pillar of his second term is needed to keep the pension system financially viable, but unions say it threatens hard-fought worker rights. Opponents proposed other solutions, including higher taxes on the wealthy or companies, which Macron says would hurt the economy. Because there is a change in population [and] there are more older people in retirement and fewer younger workers who actually pay, there are concerns about sustainability.. Workers in many French cities took to the streets Thursday to reject proposed pension changes that would push back the retirement age, amid a day of nationwide strikes and protests seen as a major test for Emmanuel Macron and his presidency. And the idea is that you pay very high taxes, and you're working years, and you get to retire at a relatively young age. The Eiffel Tower and the Versailles Palace, where the British monarch is to dine with Macron, were closed Thursday due to the strikes. Aurelien Morissard/AP The debate in France over raising the retirement age is also happening in the US. Both houses of parliament have adopted the key clauses of the pension reform bill with the . Garbage collectors, utility workers, train drivers and others walked off the job across the countryto show their anger at the reform. "The president of the Republic is not a king, and he should listen to his people," she said. Will you support Voxs explanatory journalism? Darmanin said that 12,000 security forces were in the French streets Thursday, with 5,000 in Paris. And the specter of 2005 riots that spread through poor housing projects nationwide with disenfranchised immigrant populations is never far away. Whether its a 401(k) or IRA, having these extra retirement funds apart from Social Security will serve as a buffer in case the retirement age increases or benefits are cut. Jade le Deley, Associated Press, PARIS (AP) More than a million demonstrators marched in cities and towns across France on Tuesday, in a new round of protests and strikes against the governments plan to raise the retirement age to 64. Strikes in protest at plans to raise the French retirement age are unlikely to hurt the country's economy, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said Friday, after more than a million people. The government could raise the Social Security tax cap, under which income over a certain amount $160,200 in 2023 is not subject to Social Security payroll taxes of 6.2 percent for both workers and their employers. READ MORE: Strikes and protests continue in Frances pension battle. But at the Place de Republique, over 80,000 protesters filled the streets holding signs with messages like dont touch my retirement!, The Black Thursday strikes were organized by several prominent trade unions in France in opposition to President Emmanuel Macrons plan to overhaul the pension program. He says the reform is needed to make France's economy more dynamic. Police, pelted by Molotov cocktails, objects and fireworks, charged multiple times and used tear gas to disperse rioters. Magazines, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, What to Know About Pension Reform in France. They're former politicians or high-ranking civil servants. At the elegant Place de Concorde, a festive protest by several thousand, with chants, dancing and a huge bonfire, degenerated into a scene echoing the night before. Protesters all over the country have revived a traditional form of protest known as the casserolade, or pots-and-pans protest. Big crowds also turned out for protests against previous efforts at retirement reform, notably during Macrons first term and under former President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2010. Most experts recommend setting aside 10% to 15% from each paycheck for a retirement savings pool, such as a 401(k) or individual retirement account (IRA). But instead, he says, the protests are against this idea that we all live to serve the economy, to make it grow, instead of the economy serving us, making our lives better. And so that's a nine-member body that's also known as the wise ones. (AP Photo/Bob Edme). At Charles de Gaulle airport north of Paris, the nation's biggest, protesters sang the French national anthem before pushing through a police barricade. Video footage showed officers peacefully herding striking workers away from one depot. I am not here for myself, he said.