How to combat neoliberalism

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Sanjana Karanth and Chris McGonigal

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Railway workers and others storm a building containing an office for U.S. financial company BlackRock on Thursday in Paris.VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS

Apr. 6, 2023

Photos Show Paris Protesters Storming BlackRock Building Amid Pension Fight

Workers across France are striking against the government's plan to increase the retirement age, taking their battle to the world's largest money manager.

Parisians who for weeks have been protesting France’s plan to raise the retirement age stormed a building that houses BlackRock’s regional office Thursday, taking their fight against pension changes to the world’s largest money manager.

Workers across the country are striking as the government moves to increase the retirement age for most from 62 to 64, in turn delaying pension payments. French President Emmanuel Macron triggered special constitutional powers last month so he could ram the legislation through Parliament without a vote. Currently, the country’s highest body on constitutional affairs is reviewing the bill and is expected to make a ruling on its constitutionality next week.

About 100 protesters briefly occupied the ground floor of the building that houses BlackRock’s office, which sits on the third floor. Protesters who entered the building included railway workers, education professionals and workers in the energy industry.

While BlackRock itself is not involved in France’s pension reforms, Parisians targeted the company’s building because of its work for private pension funds, protesting schoolteacher Françoise Onic told Reuters.

“We went to the headquarters of BlackRock to tell them: the money of workers, for our pensions, they are taking it,” Jerome Schmitt, a spokesperson for the French union Solidaires, told CNN affiliate BFM-TV.

Demonstrators set off smoke bombs and lit red flares in the building while chanting slogans like “We are here!” Photos and video show protesters also waving union flags.