Macron Tells Protesting Unions Pension Reform Is Unavoidable

French President Emmanuel Macron told the country’s protesting labor unions in a letter that it’s necessary to work longer to preserve the pension system, sticking to his plan to raise the retirement age to 64 from 62.

The letter responds to demands from unions for an in-person meeting with the French leader after at least 1.28 million people joined marches on Tuesday, the largest turnout yet in a succession of protests since mid-January. With surveys showing a majority of French oppose the pension overhaul and support strike action, unions say Macron has remained deaf to the backlash.