Anger at Macron mounts as French unions hold new protests

Dock workers stand in front of a burning barricade next the port of Marseille in southern France on Wednesday March 22 2023 (Daniel Cole/AP)

French unions are holding their first mass demonstrations since President Emmanuel Macron inflamed public anger by forcing a higher retirement age through parliament without a vote.

Strikes are upending travel and blockades are expected at ports, refineries and garbage dumps on Thursday.