Tourists still struggling to travel around Paris amid France union strikes.

Traffic improved slightly on French trains Thursday as nationwide strikes over the government’s retirement reform entered a 15th day and small signs of progress emerged in negotiations with unions. However, the crisis hitting one of the world’s biggest economies at the height of the holiday season is far from over. Anti-government protesters are keeping up pressure on President Emmanuel Macron with a new march through Paris in the afternoon. And some workers are expected to maintain their strike through the Christmas holidays and beyond. The SNCF national rail authority said about 60% of trains were at a standstill Thursday, down from 90% earlier in the strike. While provincial cities have suffered fewer problems, tourists and Paris commuters alike are still struggling to get around the French capital, spending hours fighting through clogged intersections or waiting for elusive subway trains. The government hopes to reach a deal with more moderate players such as France’s largest union, CFDT, which Macron hopes may divide and weaken the protest movement. CFDT Secretary General Laurent Berger said Thursday the government showed a “willingness to discuss” the issue. French strike shuts down the Eiffel Tower, trains, metro. He acknowledged that given lengthening life expectancy and the high cost of France’s pension system, “yes, we will have to work a bit longer” — but said if the government doesn’t abandon the idea of a fixed new retirement age of 64 by January, his union will continue to protest. Recent polls show a majority of the French support the strikes and protests, as they fear the proposals will make them work longer in return for lower pensions.