This will be of limited utility but we find it difficult to ignore a set of stories that tickle three—count ‘em—three of our current preoccupations.
To begin: workers in France are in a major state of whip-up-idness over proposed changes to their pension system. Pensions…for younger American readers who don’t work for the government…were a system whereby your employer promised to pay you a percentage of your salary after you retired. Until you died. And then maybe paid your surviving spouse! Sometimes, they also covered some health benefits. Sometimes they didn’t honor these commitments, but often they did! Hard to believe, yes, but it was once a benefit that some Americans enjoyed before Congress decided to give you the “freedom” to manage your paltry 401k and companies rushed to drop those unmanageable pension costs.
The French protests are a reminder that pensions still exist in some places. To preserve that system, French workers are in the midst of “the longest strike in modern French history,” which is notable. Suffice it to say they don’t like a number of changes suggested by the government. (For a useful overview, see Wikipedia’s coverage.) According to the unions, one result of these changes is that many workers will need to work beyond the legal retirement age of 62. (Yes, 62.) Possibly to age 64.
It’s been interesting to watch from afar, what with the ballerinas performing Swan Lake in protest and lawyers rudely throwing their robes on the ground before the Minister of Justice in Caen. Less amusing were the 124 miles of Parisian traffic jams that resulted from mass transport stoppages.
The protests are also popping up where it affects outdoor recreation. If you think we have a problem with weekend lift lines, consider that French unions have published a list of around 50 resorts that are targeted with partial strikes today, Saturday, February 15. One union has called for extending the walkouts indefinitely.
We mention this not because we’re judging. From afar, it’s difficult to assess how fair any of it is; just because we have created a system that seems designed to impoverish folks as they age, it doesn’t mean a more humane or even life-affirming system isn’t possible. It’s just…it’s just…the lift lines.
The final piece to this is that French resorts are already in difficult straits, thanks to the serious lack of snow on their slopes. One resort has resorted to using a helicopter to haul snow down from the high peaks. Another recently closed mid-season for the second year in a row because there was nothing to ski on. As earlier noted, snow cover is thinning in Europe and snowmaking equipment won’t solve it.
Enjoy your sticks while you can.
Image: April in February: with no snow, the Le Mourtis resort has shut down in mid-season for the second year in a row. Via Google Street View.
