France braces for widespread strike to demand more purchasing power

Commuters stand outside Gare du Nord train station and by the piece of art "Maison fond" (The melting house) by Argentinian artiste Leandro Erlich, in Paris on December 13, 2019, during a strike of Paris' public transports operator RATP and of the French state railway company SNCF employees over French government's plan to overhaul the country's retirement system. © AFP - CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT

Transport, schools and public services across France face widespread disruption Thursday as unions call for a day of strikes to protest pension reforms and the cost of living crisis.

More than 200 demonstrations planned as the CGT, FSU, Solidaires unions and several youth organisations rally under the banner “increase wages, not the retirement age".