Maybe this strike is a sign that some of the people in the West are not going to allow the corporatists to continue to erode their standard of living.

It may still be that US workers are the most productive, but they certainly do not have the highest standard of living. Their greater productivity goes to greater profit for the "bloated" (good word, but maybe misplaced in this article?) salaries of corporate executives and the already rich. French workers have health care, retirement, education for their children, including virtually free higher education for those who qualify. This is worth fighting for.

"Vivent les syndicats" "Vivent les manifestants" I wish I were there to join them.

I have great understanding for those in France who think that the pension system should change so that transportation workers don't get FULL pension at the age of 50 and others have to work until 65. The system is unfair and asymetrical and needs to be changed, for all Frenchmen, and not only those who can create most damage by striking ,read: the transportation workers. That is abuse of power - and NOT solidarity.

If the population of workers over 50 is disproportionately large, then it would actually be in the interest of younger workers for some of the older ones to retire early. Making early retirement attractive is actually quite a good move.

If the issue is really having the retirement age for the whole population be 50, surely defeating union workers who have that option is not wise. If one group has this advantage, others can work together to gain it as well. Workers supporting each other will more likely lead to advancing the best interests of all workers.