The Latest Breaking News from Philippe Martinez

As protests against pensions reform continue, France's second biggest trade union – the hardline CGT – on Friday elected its first ever woman leader. Sophie Binet, 41, emerged as the surprise pick to replace outgoing secretary general Philippe Martinez following a long night of deliberations.

France marked a ninth day of nationwide strikes and protests on Thursday after President Emmanuel Macron pledged to implement his disputed pensions overhaul by the end of the year. More than 250 rallies were held across the country, with violence reported in several cities.

French unions across the country have warned of mass protests as the country erupts over the government’s reform of the pension system.

More than a million people took to the streets during a day of mass strikes throughout France, the French interior ministry said Thursday evening. Transport, schools and refinery shipments were disrupted as workers walked off the jobs in an attempt to derail President Emmanuel Macron's unpopular pension overhaul. Read our…

Is France back to its old ways?

France was preparing for a day of major disruptions on Tuesday after unions called a nationwide transport strike as they remain in deadlock with the government over walkouts at oil depots that have sparked fuel shortages. The move comes after workers at several refineries and depots operated by energy giant…

A legal battle over the right to strike is looming in France after a top union boss said he would go to the courts to stop the government from forcing oil refinery employees back to work.

A nationwide strike on Thursday disrupted the French energy sector, taking a large chunk of the nuclear production offline, as workers push for a pay hike amid rising tensions between unions and the government over a planned pensions reform.

French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that France faces "sacrifices" in a new era marked by climate change and war in Europe.