The issue for the strike yesterday and the strike earlier this month has been over the decision to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62. As an outsider, the increase sounds quite small as many other countries only allow official retirement at 65 or 67. Where is does sound unfair is the rapid transition from the current age requirement. As I've mentioned before, there are countless marches in Paris and even though yesterday's march was large, it's doubtful that it was large enough to have any impact on the Senate confirmation.
French unions have reported turnout of nearly three million people at rallies against pension reform but police figures are much lower.
The CFDT federation said 2.9 million had joined events across France, exceeding the turnout of 2.5 million on 7 September.
Police put turnout in Paris at less than a quarter of the unions' figure.
Marches and rallies were held as strikes closed down much of the country's public transport.
The pension reform bill, which raises the retirement age from 60 to 62, has already been passed by France's lower house of parliament.
It will be debated from 5 October by the upper house, the Senate, where it is expected to pass comfortably.
