Paris, France (CNN) -- French unions began a strike Tuesday over pension reforms days after the Senate approved raising the country's retirement age from 60 to 62.
Turnout for the strike -- the fourth in the past month -- was larger than it has been for previous strikes. Workers in French refineries were also joining the labor action, raising the specter of fuel and gas shortages if the strikes continue.
Rather than end the strike after 24 hours, as the unions have previously done, this time they promised to vote on a day-by-day basis whether to continue. A prolonged strike could lead to chaos with transportation and the delivery of goods.
Francois Chereque, head of the trade union French Democratic Confederation of Labour (CFDT), said Tuesday it is the unions' "last chance to make the government back down".
"We understand that a reform is needed, but this one is not fair," he said. "This is going to be a big demonstration and the government is playing with fire. The only way we can make the government back down is by taking a tough line".
Chereque said he wanted the walkouts to last, but he noted many employees don't have the means to pay for repeated strikes.
CNN
