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In the midst of strikes that are disrupting public transport in France, eight major unions are calling on their members to take to the streets to protest the government's plans to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62, and take away some civil service benefits. The unions say that they expect 2 million to protest on Tuesday. The Labor Ministry said that 25% of civil servants were on strike, and a rail company said that 43% of its workforce was on strike as well. The protest are seen as a test of the government's resolve in pushing through the reforms. The goal is for the public deficit to be reduced to 3% of GDP by 2013, as specified in euro-treaties. Union leaders are saying that early turnout for the protest is encouraging. Conservative leaders say that the protests should not make a difference in the actions of the government.