Pacific

French Polynesia Union considering more strike action

11:49 am on 15 December 2008

The head of French Polynesia's teachers union, Marc Ploton, has not ruled out a new strike in an effort to protect French pensions for those retiring overseas.

Mr Ploton has told the Tahitipresse news agency that the battle is not over in light of last week's ruling in Paris by the French constitutional court which annulled last month's pension reform.

The court agreed with the French opposition Socialists that the reforms, adopted by the French assembly and the senate, violated constitutional provisions in place since 1946.

The French junior minister in charge of overseas territories, Yves Jego, is adamant that the reform will be adopted in a revised form.

But Mr Ploton has again called for a roundtable discussion on the planned cuts which the French government wants to put in place for those retiring from next year.

French Polynesia's politicians have said the reform needs to be put off for a year to allow for a debate about its impact.

Last month, public servants in Tahiti staged a 15-day strike, closing schools and the port of Papeete in a bid to stop the planned cuts.