Arnold Jerocki / Getty
Public and private workers demonstrate and shout slogans during a mass strike against pension reforms on December 05, 2019 in Marseille, France.
- Hundreds of thousands of people are currently protesting across France.
- The strikes are a response to President Emmanuel Macron's plans to unify France's generous, differing pension scheme.
- Currently, there are 42 different schemes for different sectors. He wants a singular pension.
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France is at a standstill.
On Thursday, hundreds of coordinated strikes, featuring hundreds of thousands of people, have slowed the country. Trains and flights have been canceled. Schools have closed.
The strikes are in response to President Emmanuel Macron's plan to unify France's generous, differing pension scheme. Currently, there are 42 different schemes, and he wants to make it one.
The biggest demonstration was in Paris, but protesters planned strikes in 245 locations, including other major cities like Lyon and Marseille.
Here's what the strikes are like.