Paris commuters crammed into the city's only two working Metro lines as labor strikes over pension reforms crippled France's train services for an eighth day.

Tensions flared in several parts of the country. Police fired tear gas Thursday morning at protesters in the western city of Nantes, and protesters set vehicles on fire in the Mediterranean port city of Marseille.

Click to Gallery

A railway worker wears a vest reading 'On strike » during a meeting at the gare de l'est Railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Paris commuters crammed into the city's only two working Metro lines as labor strikes over pension reforms crippled France's train services for an eighth day.
A commuter looks at the information board as he waits for a bus in front of the Gare du Nord railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. Inscription on the right reads « Life is beautiful ». (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

“No Christmas break unless the government comes to its senses,” Laurent Brun of the General Work Confederationunion,warned Thursday.
A railway worker gives a speech during a meeting at the gare de l'est Railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Though Parisians have been adversely affected since they rely the most on public transportation, other parts of France have experienced less aggravation and the striking workers have enjoyed widespread public support, according to polls.
Railway workers leave after a meeting at the gare de l'est Railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

“(But) I think there should be better provisions to accommodate getting to work. There’s a huge impact on the economy, a huge impact of people life in general,” he added.
Commuters wait for a bus in front of the Gare du Nord railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Commuters wait for a bus in front of the Gare du Nord railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)
Railway workers vote to extend the strike during a meeting at the gare de l'est Railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Railway workers vote to extend the strike during a meeting at the gare de l'est Railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)
More Images
A railway worker wears a vest reading 'On strike » during a meeting at the gare de l'est Railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Paris commuters crammed into the city's only two working Metro lines as labor strikes over pension reforms crippled France's train services for an eighth day.

A commuter looks at the information board as he waits for a bus in front of the Gare du Nord railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. Inscription on the right reads « Life is beautiful ». (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

“No Christmas break unless the government comes to its senses,” Laurent Brun of the General Work Confederationunion,warned Thursday.

A railway worker gives a speech during a meeting at the gare de l'est Railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Though Parisians have been adversely affected since they rely the most on public transportation, other parts of France have experienced less aggravation and the striking workers have enjoyed widespread public support, according to polls.

Railway workers leave after a meeting at the gare de l'est Railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

“(But) I think there should be better provisions to accommodate getting to work. There’s a huge impact on the economy, a huge impact of people life in general,” he added.

Commuters wait for a bus in front of the Gare du Nord railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Commuters wait for a bus in front of the Gare du Nord railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Railway workers vote to extend the strike during a meeting at the gare de l'est Railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Railway workers vote to extend the strike during a meeting at the gare de l'est Railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Unions have flatly rejected fresh proposals by the government of President Emmanuel Macron to stagger the roll-out of a plan that would require France's youngest workers - people born after 1974 - to stay on the job until the age of 64 to get full pensions instead of age 62.

A railway worker wears a vest reading 'On strike » during a meeting at the gare de l'est Railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

A railway worker wears a vest reading 'On strike » during a meeting at the gare de l'est Railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

“No Christmas break unless the government comes to its senses,” Laurent Brun of the General Work Confederationunion,warned Thursday.

The unions' dismissal of the proposal the government made Wednesday signals that labor leaders were serious when they billed the strikes as “unlimited.”

The strikesthreaten to mirror similarones in 1995 that lasted over three weeks, led to the ouster Prime Minister Alain Juppe and ended with proposed pension reforms being scrapped. The 1995 strikes were themselves compared in scale to the seismic events of May 1968, when France reached the brink of revolution.

A commuter looks at the information board as he waits for a bus in front of the Gare du Nord railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. Inscription on the right reads « Life is beautiful ». (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

A commuter looks at the information board as he waits for a bus in front of the Gare du Nord railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. Inscription on the right reads « Life is beautiful ». (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Though Parisians have been adversely affected since they rely the most on public transportation, other parts of France have experienced less aggravation and the striking workers have enjoyed widespread public support, according to polls.

The mood among the public remains strained but understanding.

“I totally understand why people are on strike... Obviously, everyone is affected by the pension reform," London-Paris commuter Nicolas Lipitei said Thursday.

A railway worker gives a speech during a meeting at the gare de l'est Railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

A railway worker gives a speech during a meeting at the gare de l'est Railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

“(But) I think there should be better provisions to accommodate getting to work. There’s a huge impact on the economy, a huge impact of people life in general,” he added.

Many French people and the unions leading the strikes fear the new system will force people to work longer for smaller pensions.

The government said the changes would ensure the pension system is “fair and sustainable" in the face of a growing population with a record number of people over age 90.

Railway workers leave after a meeting at the gare de l'est Railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Railway workers leave after a meeting at the gare de l'est Railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)
Commuters wait for a bus in front of the Gare du Nord railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Commuters wait for a bus in front of the Gare du Nord railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

 Railway workers vote to extend the strike during a meeting at the gare de l'est Railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)

Railway workers vote to extend the strike during a meeting at the gare de l'est Railway station, in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. France's prime minister said Wednesday the full retirement age will be increased for the country's youngest, but offered a series of concessions in an ill-fated effort to calm a nationwide protest against pension reforms that critics call an erosion of the country's way of life. (AP PhotoThibault Camus)