French workers objecting to President Macron’s pension reforms are marching in Paris again. The strike that disrupted Christmas travel plans and cost hundreds of millions has now reached its fourth week.

Thousands of people flooded the streets of Paris on Thursday in their latest march against the proposed reform that seeks to merge the current 42 pension schemes into one. The proposal was rejected by unions and workers in many professions as it strips early retirement options for doing physically demanding or hazardous jobs.

With railway workers joining in the general strike, France was semi-paralyzed on Christmas Eve. Many trains were canceled and just two of 16 Paris metro lines remain operational. Other means of transportation couldn’t make up for the shortfall.

#greve26dec19 ce n'est pas fini , on te lâchera pas Macron ! En ce moment 26 dec 19 Gare de L’Est Paris #RATP#ReformeRetraitespic.twitter.com/tQXVMwByCQ — camille (@camille82393901) December 26, 2019

The protesters and the government last week failed to reach a compromise or at least a holiday truce. Talks are scheduled to resume on January 7, which means the New Year period will be just as difficult for many, including holiday goers.

🔴Départ de la manifestation des grévistes de la RATP, de la SNCF et de leurs soutiens. Le parcours est de la Gare de l’Est jusqu’à la Gare Saint-Lazare. Ils demandent toujours le retrait de la #ReformeRetraites. #greve26decembre#Paris#GreveGenerale#Retraitespic.twitter.com/JIALpup0hn — Charles Baudry (@CharlesBaudry) December 26, 2019

The strike is meant to repeat the success of 1995, when a series of protests culminating in three weeks of rail disruption just before Christmas forced the government of Jacques Chirac to cancel a planned retirement reform.

Alors que #Macron joue le pourrisement, des milliers de personnes manifestent aujourd'hui à #Paris au lendemain de Noël.Du jamais vu, en plus des 22jours de #greve soit déjà plus que la grève de 1995.#GiletsJaunes#greve26decembre#France#GreveGeneralepic.twitter.com/POSKxi5bT8 — Anonyme Citoyen (version non censuré) (@AnonymeCitoyen1) December 26, 2019

An estimated 400 million euros was lost from the current turmoil by the rail operator SNCF alone over the first 21 days of the strike. Other businesses reported suffering a heavy toll from the loss of Christmas boom.

If you like this story, share it with a friend!