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All of France’s major trade unions have united in protest against President Emmanuel Macron’s government over its call to raise the retirement age to 64.

The key pension reform led the 875,000-member Democratic Confederation of Labour to finally mobilise on a day of industrial action and demonstrations across the country.

“We have been pro-reform up until this point but the government has crossed a red line,” said a spokesman. “We will be joining today’s protests with other unions.”

Thousands of workers gathered in central Paris on Tuesday for a march on the 13th consecutive day of walkouts that have crippled transport and shut schools and tourist attractions .

France National Strike - In pictures 88 show all France National Strike - In pictures 1/88 A French SNCF railway worker on strike holds a flare as he walks at Gare du Nord railway station Reuters 2/88 Empty tracks are seen on the departure train platform Gare du Nord railway station during a strike by French SNCF railway workers Reuters 3/88 Protesters wearing yellow vests demonstrate during their 56th round of protests Reuters 4/88 French unionists demonstrate against unemployment and precariousness in Paris AFP via Getty Images 5/88 French unionists demonstrate against unemployment and precariousness in Paris AFP via Getty Images 6/88 A man shouts slogans and and hold a placard reading "general alert" AFP via Getty Images 7/88 Empty tracks at Gare de L'Est train station in Paris AP 8/88 A participant wearing a Guy Fawkes mask takes a selfie AFP via Getty Images 9/88 French activist Jean-Baptiste Redde, aka Voltuan holds a placard reading "here are the destroyers" AFP via Getty Images 10/88 Protesters wearing yellow vests demonstrate during their 56th round of protests Reuters 11/88 Yellow vests protesters holding a portrait of French President Macron and a French flag march in Paris AP 12/88 A protester wearing a yellow vest drives his car Reuters 13/88 Protesters hold a banner reading : "Defence of the unemployment scheme, regaining of the social security" AFP via Getty Images 14/88 French unionists demonstrate against unemployment and precariousness in Paris AFP via Getty Images 15/88 A placard depicting a portrait of French President Macron and reading "Let them come to take me" AP 16/88 Honey-colored giant teddy bears are seen in front of the gate of a closed metro station as a strike by French SNCF railway Reuters 17/88 Yellow vests protesters holding a French flag march in Paris AP 18/88 Protesters wearing yellow vests demonstrate during their 56th round of protests Reuters 19/88 Protesters wearing yellow vests hold a placard reading "These are the breakers" Reuters 20/88 In this combo of 6 images, yellow vest protesters take part of their 56th round demonstration in Paris, Saturday AP 21/88 Sophie Tissier, one of the leading figures of the yellow vests movement, attends a demonstration Reuters 22/88 Demonstrators overturn a container during a demonstration against the pension overhauls AFP via Getty Images 23/88 An overturned trailer burns on a street during clashes at a demonstration against French government's pensions reform plans in Paris as part of a day of national strike and protests in France, Reuters 24/88 Firefighters pull off a fire on burning truck AP 25/88 Motor scooter set ablaze AFP via Getty Images 26/88 A protestor lights a smoke flare during a demonstration Reuters 27/88 A protestor gestures during a demonstration against French government's pensions reform plans Reuters 28/88 Policemen secure an area during the demonstration Reuters 29/88 Protestors gesture as they stand in tear gas during a rally against the pension overhauls AFP via Getty Images 30/88 Reuters 31/88 A man wearing a yellow vest jacket holds a red flare during rally AFP via Getty Images 32/88 Protestors attend a demonstration against French government's pensions reform plans, Reuters 33/88 Reuters 34/88 Protesters hold a banner during demonstration Reuters 35/88 French gendarmes run amid tear gas AFP via Getty Images 36/88 "Black bloc" anti-capitalist protesters take part in a demonstration AFP via Getty Images 37/88 Policemen make a formation during demonstration Reuters 38/88 Reuters 39/88 A container has been set ablaze AFP via Getty Images 40/88 A man wearing a clown mask and waving a smoke bomb takes part in a demonstration to protest against the pension overhauls, in Marseille, southern France AFP via Getty Images 41/88 A puppet depicting French President Emmanuel Macron is tossed into the air during a demonstration against French government's pensions reform plans in Nice Reuters 42/88 Dockers march with smoke bombs and hold a banner as they take part in a demonstration to protest against the pension overhauls, in Marseille AFP via Getty Images 43/88 AFP via Getty Images 44/88 AFP via Getty Images 45/88 A man wearing a clown mask and waving a smoke bomb takes part in a demonstration to protest against the pension overhauls, in Marseille, southern France AFP via Getty Images 46/88 AFP via Getty Images 47/88 Dockers march with smoke bombs AFP via Getty Images 48/88 AFP via Getty Images 49/88 People wave the flags of French trade union General Confederation of Labour (CGT) as they take part in a demonstration to protest against the pension overhauls, in Marseille AFP via Getty Images 50/88 People wave the flags of French trade union General Confederation of Labour (CGT) as they take part in a demonstration AFP via Getty Images 51/88 French SNCF railway workers on strike Reuters 52/88 Protesters march during a mass stirke in the Old Port of Marseille AP 53/88 Protesters march during a mass stirke in the Old Port of Marseille AP 54/88 Eurostar terminal deserted this morning as a strike in France takes effect Jeremy Selwyn 55/88 Gare du Nord in Paris during a strike AFP via Getty Images 56/88 Eurostar terminal deserted Jeremy Selwyn 57/88 Eurostar terminal deserted Jeremy Selwyn 58/88 Railways are seen in the morning of a mass strike at the Gare St-Charles station AP 59/88 A passenger sleeps at the Orly airport, south of Paris AP 60/88 A baggage drop-off desk is pictured empty at the Orly airport, south of Paris AP 61/88 A subway electronic ticket checkpoint and access gate are pictured at the Gare du Nord railway station Reuters 62/88 A woman pictures the information board at the Orly airport, south of Paris AP 63/88 Passengers wait at the Orly airport, south of Paris AP 64/88 Red lights are pictured at the Saint Lazare train station in Pari AP 65/88 Passengers check the information board at the Orly airport, south of Paris AP 66/88 Commuters exit a commuter train at the Saint-Lazare train station in Paris AP 67/88 A man walks in a commuter train at the Saint-Lazare train station in Paris AP 68/88 A woman walks past a SNCF train at Montparnasse railway station AFP via Getty Images 69/88 A man looks at the information board reading the different planes cancelled during a strike over French government's plan to overhaul the country's retirement system, at the Paris Orly airport in Orly AFP via Getty Images 70/88 SNCF agents inform passagers at Montparnasse railway station AFP via Getty Images 71/88 People wait to know if their plane is cancelled or on time during a strike over French government's plan to overhaul the country's retirement system AFP via Getty Images 72/88 Workers stand next to a sign reading "metro lines closed" at Montparnasse railway station AFP via Getty Images 73/88 Commuters wait in a subway station in Paris, AP 74/88 The empty Gare du Nord train station AP 75/88 An SNCF agent informs a passenger at Montparnasse railway station AFP via Getty Images 76/88 An empty platform is pictured during a railway strike at the Lyon Perrache train station, AP 77/88 The empty Montparnasse train station AP 78/88 An empty platform is pictured during a railway strike AP 79/88 An empty platform is pictured during a railway strike at the Lyon Perrache train station AP 80/88 Railway workers are pictured the morning of a mass strike at the Gare St-Charles station AP 81/88 People look at the information board reading the different planes cancelled or on time AFP via Getty Images 82/88 Empty railways are pictured the morning of a mass strike at the Gare St-Charles station AP 83/88 Protesters hold a banner which reads " No to the points-based pension system, we want a real pension" REUTERS 84/88 An empty train is pictured during a railway strike at the Lyon Perrache train station AP 85/88 A woman on a skateboard rides along the Seine river in Paris AFP via Getty Images 86/88 An empty platform is pictured during a railway strike at the Lyon Perrache train station, AP 87/88 A protester holds a banner which reads "pensions" during a demonstration against French government's pensions Reuters 88/88 A man walks past a sign reading "metro lines closed" at Montparnasse railway station AFP via Getty Images 1/88 A French SNCF railway worker on strike holds a flare as he walks at Gare du Nord railway station Reuters 2/88 Empty tracks are seen on the departure train platform Gare du Nord railway station during a strike by French SNCF railway workers Reuters 3/88 Protesters wearing yellow vests demonstrate during their 56th round of protests Reuters 4/88 French unionists demonstrate against unemployment and precariousness in Paris AFP via Getty Images 5/88 French unionists demonstrate against unemployment and precariousness in Paris AFP via Getty Images 6/88 A man shouts slogans and and hold a placard reading "general alert" AFP via Getty Images 7/88 Empty tracks at Gare de L'Est train station in Paris AP 8/88 A participant wearing a Guy Fawkes mask takes a selfie AFP via Getty Images 9/88 French activist Jean-Baptiste Redde, aka Voltuan holds a placard reading "here are the destroyers" AFP via Getty Images 10/88 Protesters wearing yellow vests demonstrate during their 56th round of protests Reuters 11/88 Yellow vests protesters holding a portrait of French President Macron and a French flag march in Paris AP 12/88 A protester wearing a yellow vest drives his car Reuters 13/88 Protesters hold a banner reading : "Defence of the unemployment scheme, regaining of the social security" AFP via Getty Images 14/88 French unionists demonstrate against unemployment and precariousness in Paris AFP via Getty Images 15/88 A placard depicting a portrait of French President Macron and reading "Let them come to take me" AP 16/88 Honey-colored giant teddy bears are seen in front of the gate of a closed metro station as a strike by French SNCF railway Reuters 17/88 Yellow vests protesters holding a French flag march in Paris AP 18/88 Protesters wearing yellow vests demonstrate during their 56th round of protests Reuters 19/88 Protesters wearing yellow vests hold a placard reading "These are the breakers" Reuters 20/88 In this combo of 6 images, yellow vest protesters take part of their 56th round demonstration in Paris, Saturday AP 21/88 Sophie Tissier, one of the leading figures of the yellow vests movement, attends a demonstration Reuters 22/88 Demonstrators overturn a container during a demonstration against the pension overhauls AFP via Getty Images 23/88 An overturned trailer burns on a street during clashes at a demonstration against French government's pensions reform plans in Paris as part of a day of national strike and protests in France, Reuters 24/88 Firefighters pull off a fire on burning truck AP 25/88 Motor scooter set ablaze AFP via Getty Images 26/88 A protestor lights a smoke flare during a demonstration Reuters 27/88 A protestor gestures during a demonstration against French government's pensions reform plans Reuters 28/88 Policemen secure an area during the demonstration Reuters 29/88 Protestors gesture as they stand in tear gas during a rally against the pension overhauls AFP via Getty Images 30/88 Reuters 31/88 A man wearing a yellow vest jacket holds a red flare during rally AFP via Getty Images 32/88 Protestors attend a demonstration against French government's pensions reform plans, Reuters 33/88 Reuters 34/88 Protesters hold a banner during demonstration Reuters 35/88 French gendarmes run amid tear gas AFP via Getty Images 36/88 "Black bloc" anti-capitalist protesters take part in a demonstration AFP via Getty Images 37/88 Policemen make a formation during demonstration Reuters 38/88 Reuters 39/88 A container has been set ablaze AFP via Getty Images 40/88 A man wearing a clown mask and waving a smoke bomb takes part in a demonstration to protest against the pension overhauls, in Marseille, southern France AFP via Getty Images 41/88 A puppet depicting French President Emmanuel Macron is tossed into the air during a demonstration against French government's pensions reform plans in Nice Reuters 42/88 Dockers march with smoke bombs and hold a banner as they take part in a demonstration to protest against the pension overhauls, in Marseille AFP via Getty Images 43/88 AFP via Getty Images 44/88 AFP via Getty Images 45/88 A man wearing a clown mask and waving a smoke bomb takes part in a demonstration to protest against the pension overhauls, in Marseille, southern France AFP via Getty Images 46/88 AFP via Getty Images 47/88 Dockers march with smoke bombs AFP via Getty Images 48/88 AFP via Getty Images 49/88 People wave the flags of French trade union General Confederation of Labour (CGT) as they take part in a demonstration to protest against the pension overhauls, in Marseille AFP via Getty Images 50/88 People wave the flags of French trade union General Confederation of Labour (CGT) as they take part in a demonstration AFP via Getty Images 51/88 French SNCF railway workers on strike Reuters 52/88 Protesters march during a mass stirke in the Old Port of Marseille AP 53/88 Protesters march during a mass stirke in the Old Port of Marseille AP 54/88 Eurostar terminal deserted this morning as a strike in France takes effect Jeremy Selwyn 55/88 Gare du Nord in Paris during a strike AFP via Getty Images 56/88 Eurostar terminal deserted Jeremy Selwyn 57/88 Eurostar terminal deserted Jeremy Selwyn 58/88 Railways are seen in the morning of a mass strike at the Gare St-Charles station AP 59/88 A passenger sleeps at the Orly airport, south of Paris AP 60/88 A baggage drop-off desk is pictured empty at the Orly airport, south of Paris AP 61/88 A subway electronic ticket checkpoint and access gate are pictured at the Gare du Nord railway station Reuters 62/88 A woman pictures the information board at the Orly airport, south of Paris AP 63/88 Passengers wait at the Orly airport, south of Paris AP 64/88 Red lights are pictured at the Saint Lazare train station in Pari AP 65/88 Passengers check the information board at the Orly airport, south of Paris AP 66/88 Commuters exit a commuter train at the Saint-Lazare train station in Paris AP 67/88 A man walks in a commuter train at the Saint-Lazare train station in Paris AP 68/88 A woman walks past a SNCF train at Montparnasse railway station AFP via Getty Images 69/88 A man looks at the information board reading the different planes cancelled during a strike over French government's plan to overhaul the country's retirement system, at the Paris Orly airport in Orly AFP via Getty Images 70/88 SNCF agents inform passagers at Montparnasse railway station AFP via Getty Images 71/88 People wait to know if their plane is cancelled or on time during a strike over French government's plan to overhaul the country's retirement system AFP via Getty Images 72/88 Workers stand next to a sign reading "metro lines closed" at Montparnasse railway station AFP via Getty Images 73/88 Commuters wait in a subway station in Paris, AP 74/88 The empty Gare du Nord train station AP 75/88 An SNCF agent informs a passenger at Montparnasse railway station AFP via Getty Images 76/88 An empty platform is pictured during a railway strike at the Lyon Perrache train station, AP 77/88 The empty Montparnasse train station AP 78/88 An empty platform is pictured during a railway strike AP 79/88 An empty platform is pictured during a railway strike at the Lyon Perrache train station AP 80/88 Railway workers are pictured the morning of a mass strike at the Gare St-Charles station AP 81/88 People look at the information board reading the different planes cancelled or on time AFP via Getty Images 82/88 Empty railways are pictured the morning of a mass strike at the Gare St-Charles station AP 83/88 Protesters hold a banner which reads " No to the points-based pension system, we want a real pension" REUTERS 84/88 An empty train is pictured during a railway strike at the Lyon Perrache train station AP 85/88 A woman on a skateboard rides along the Seine river in Paris AFP via Getty Images 86/88 An empty platform is pictured during a railway strike at the Lyon Perrache train station, AP 87/88 A protester holds a banner which reads "pensions" during a demonstration against French government's pensions Reuters 88/88 A man walks past a sign reading "metro lines closed" at Montparnasse railway station AFP via Getty Images

Police barricaded the Elysée Palace, the President’s residence, ahead of the protest, in case of violence by yellow vest activists or Black Bloc anarchists.

Pressure is mounting on Mr Macron after the key architect of his pension overhaul, Jean-Paul Delevoye, quit yesterday over alleged conflicts of interest.

The current retirement age in France is 62 — compared with 65 in the UK — but workers on special plans, from train drivers to opera singers, can step down 10 years earlier.

Mr Macron’s prime minister, Edouard Philippe, said that under his new regime workers will need to work until 64 to get a full pension. “We’ll encourage people to work longer,” he added.

Both Mr Philippe and Mr Macron have insisted the government will not back down following two weeks of transport stoppages and street violence.

Paris City Hall today warned of a potential flashpoint at the Place de la Bastille, a famous protest square. It is being renovated but, despite opposition from the Mayor, the government is allowing a march to pass through it.

“It is dangerous to expose this particularly sensitive construction site to the marchers,” said Emmanuel Gregoire, first assistant to the Mayor. “We are now asking for security guarantees.”

He added that Black Bloc anarchists — known for throwing bricks at police and starting fires — were expected at the protests. In the past, construction machinery has been hijacked to try to destroy government buildings.

Bastille is the site of the now demolished prison that was stormed at the start of the French Revolution in 1789.