Air France dispute threatens to escalate Macron’s battle with labour

In the first year of his presidency, Emmanuel Macron has pushed business-friendly labour laws through Parliament, made it easier for companies to hire and fire, cut the wealth tax and decentralised collective bargaining. Through it all, France’s most militant unions have resisted. His changes, which set out to reshape the way France’s economy and society work, are now facing increasing pushback from labour groups. Unions representing Air France-KLM staff Monday called for new strikes after rejecting a pay proposal. While Macron’s economic changes do not take aim at the nation’s flagship air carrier, his administration has inserted itself directly into the fight, warning labour leaders that they risked driving Air France to the brink of calamity. <br/>