These pension strikes may be historic, but French unions are weaker than they seem | Cole Stangler
(The Guardian France)

Their fight against Macron´s pension reforms highlights the need to turn public support into active membershipWhen France is viewed from abroad, the strength of its unions is taken for granted. And sure enough, as strikes over proposed pension reforms have taken off since early December, the English-language press has been peppered with references to France´s `powerful unions` and talk of the country being `paralysed` by strike action. If only.In reality, the movement has revealed some of the limitations of French trade unionism today. While polls show that the majority of people continue to both oppose the government´s reforms and support the strikes, protest turnout has gradually declined over the course of several national mobilisations. Related: We won´t back off on pension protests, union `Asterix´ warns Macron Related: Macron was the great hope for centrists. Despite his struggles, the hope is not lost | John Lichfield Continue reading...