<p class="title">The French government and a key trade union on Sunday exchanged bitter accusations over who was to blame for France's over three-week transport strike against pension reforms, as the stalemate showed little sign of relenting.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Deputy Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari accused the hardline CGT union of a "systematic opposition to any reform" while the union's chief Philippe Martinez charged the government with strewing "chaos" in the conflict.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The strike -- now longer than the notorious 22-day strike of winter 1995 -- has lasted 25 days and is on course to surpass the longest transport strike in France which lasted for 28 days in 1986 and early 1987.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Aside from two driverless lines, the Paris metro was again almost completely shut down on Sunday while only a fraction of high-speed TGV trains were running.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The government and unions are only due to hold their next talks on January 7, two days ahead of a new day of mass demonstrations against the reform which is championed by President Emmanuel Macron.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In an interview with the Journal de Dimanche newspaper, Djebbari angrily accused the CGT of "attitudes of intimidation, harassment and even aggression" against railway workers who had opted not to down tools.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He accused the CGT of showing a "systematic opposition to any reform, of blocking and sometimes intimidation".</p>.<p class="bodytext">"The CGT wants to make its mark through media stunts. But the French are not going to be duped by the extreme-left politicisation of this movement," he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But in an interview with the same newspaper, Martinez accused the government of trying to ensure the conflict deteriorated further.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Emmanuel Macron presents himself as a man of a new world but he is imitating Margaret Thatcher," he said, referring to the late British prime minister who sought to break the power of the unions in 1980s standoffs.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"There is real anger. Of course, not being paid for 24 days is tough. But the conflict is the result of two-and-a-half years of suffering," Martinez added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He said he was awaiting concessions from Macron in a New Year's address Tuesday evening as well as recognition that "most people are not happy and that he (the president) was wrong".</p>.<p class="bodytext">The French president, elected in 2017 on pledges to reform France, has remained virtually silent on the standoff, save for a call for a Christmas truce that went unheeded and a vow not to take a presidential pension.</p>.<p class="bodytext">This will intensify attention on December 31 address, with all eyes on whether Macron offers steps to defuse the conflict or indicates he is ready for a long, grinding standoff.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The unions are demanding that the government drops a plan to merge 42 existing pension schemes into a single, points-based system.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The overhaul would see workers in certain sectors -- including the railways -- lose early retirement benefits. The government says the pension overhaul is needed to create a fairer system.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But workers object to the inclusion of a so-called pivot age of 64 until which people would have to work to earn a full pension -- two years beyond the official retirement age.</p>.<p class="bodytext">There have been signs of progress in specific sectors, with the government offering concessions to dancers at the Paris Opera who have been on strike to protect their special scheme.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The main French pilots union SNPL also last week cancelled planned strike action on January 3 following talks with the government.</p>.<p class="bodytext">There was expected to be an improvement in Paris metro services on Monday -- but still with severe disruptions - with two lines closed and 12 lines offering a partial service.</p>
<p class="title">The French government and a key trade union on Sunday exchanged bitter accusations over who was to blame for France's over three-week transport strike against pension reforms, as the stalemate showed little sign of relenting.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Deputy Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari accused the hardline CGT union of a "systematic opposition to any reform" while the union's chief Philippe Martinez charged the government with strewing "chaos" in the conflict.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The strike -- now longer than the notorious 22-day strike of winter 1995 -- has lasted 25 days and is on course to surpass the longest transport strike in France which lasted for 28 days in 1986 and early 1987.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Aside from two driverless lines, the Paris metro was again almost completely shut down on Sunday while only a fraction of high-speed TGV trains were running.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The government and unions are only due to hold their next talks on January 7, two days ahead of a new day of mass demonstrations against the reform which is championed by President Emmanuel Macron.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In an interview with the Journal de Dimanche newspaper, Djebbari angrily accused the CGT of "attitudes of intimidation, harassment and even aggression" against railway workers who had opted not to down tools.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He accused the CGT of showing a "systematic opposition to any reform, of blocking and sometimes intimidation".</p>.<p class="bodytext">"The CGT wants to make its mark through media stunts. But the French are not going to be duped by the extreme-left politicisation of this movement," he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But in an interview with the same newspaper, Martinez accused the government of trying to ensure the conflict deteriorated further.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Emmanuel Macron presents himself as a man of a new world but he is imitating Margaret Thatcher," he said, referring to the late British prime minister who sought to break the power of the unions in 1980s standoffs.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"There is real anger. Of course, not being paid for 24 days is tough. But the conflict is the result of two-and-a-half years of suffering," Martinez added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He said he was awaiting concessions from Macron in a New Year's address Tuesday evening as well as recognition that "most people are not happy and that he (the president) was wrong".</p>.<p class="bodytext">The French president, elected in 2017 on pledges to reform France, has remained virtually silent on the standoff, save for a call for a Christmas truce that went unheeded and a vow not to take a presidential pension.</p>.<p class="bodytext">This will intensify attention on December 31 address, with all eyes on whether Macron offers steps to defuse the conflict or indicates he is ready for a long, grinding standoff.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The unions are demanding that the government drops a plan to merge 42 existing pension schemes into a single, points-based system.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The overhaul would see workers in certain sectors -- including the railways -- lose early retirement benefits. The government says the pension overhaul is needed to create a fairer system.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But workers object to the inclusion of a so-called pivot age of 64 until which people would have to work to earn a full pension -- two years beyond the official retirement age.</p>.<p class="bodytext">There have been signs of progress in specific sectors, with the government offering concessions to dancers at the Paris Opera who have been on strike to protect their special scheme.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The main French pilots union SNPL also last week cancelled planned strike action on January 3 following talks with the government.</p>.<p class="bodytext">There was expected to be an improvement in Paris metro services on Monday -- but still with severe disruptions - with two lines closed and 12 lines offering a partial service.</p>