France hit by nationwide strikes as unions fight Macron's pension reform

French train drivers, teachers and refinery workers were among those who walked off their jobs on January 19 in a nationwide day of strikes against government plans to raise the retirement age by two years to 64.

The strikes, and protests expected across the country, are a major test for President Emmanuel Macron, who says his pension reform plan, which opinion polls show is hugely unpopular, is vital to ensure the system does not go bust, Reuters reports.

The challenge for unions is to transform opposition to the reform - and anger over a cost-of-living crisis - into a mass social protest which would eventually force the government to change tack.

"We need a lot of people to join the protests," Laurent Berger, head of France's largest union, CFDT, told BFM TV. "People are against this reform ... we need to show it (in the streets)."

He and other union leaders, expected to announce more strikes and protests in the evening, said on January 19 was just the beginning.

"There's nothing good in this reform," said Rozenn Cros, in the southern French city of Cannes, as she and other teachers prepared to strike, with banners including "No to 64".

For Macron, at stake are his reformist credentials, both at home and with his European Union peers, as well as keeping public spending in check.

Pushing back the retirement age by two years and extending the pay-in period would bring an additional 17.7 billion euros ($19.1 billion) in annual pension contributions, allowing the system to break even by 2027, according to Labour Ministry estimates.

"This reform is necessary and fair," Labour Minister Olivier Dussopt told LCI TV.