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France braces for day of strikes Strikes over pensions hit France
(1 day later)
French workers at the national rail company, SNCF, have begun strike action against President Nicolas Sarkozy's plans to reform public-sector pensions. France's main trade unions have held a day of demonstrations and strikes to protest against government plans to change the state pension system.
Workers from other sectors are expected to join them early on Thursday in a one-day protest to pressure Mr Sarkozy to reverse his economic reforms. Transport workers led the national stoppage, with only half of trains running across France.
Bus drivers nationwide were expected to strike, air service may be disrupted and about 50% of trains are to be cut. Hundreds of thousands took part in protests in many cities, in what unions called an "undeniable success".
The strikes follow protests by fishermen that blocked French ports. President Nicolas Sarkozy is seeking to increase the number of years worked to draw a full pension from 40 to 41.
High-speed international trains between Paris, London and Brussels were not expected to be affected by the SNCF workers' action. Travel by train, bus and underground was disrupted across France.
The transport workers are due to be joined by postal, utility and other public sector workers across France. However high-speed trains between Paris, London and Brussels were not affected, and flights to and from Paris were operating as normal.
Postal services were reduced, while state-run radio played music rather than provide normal programmes.
Demonstrations were held in Paris and at least 126 other cities.
Union leaders say a total of 700,000 people took part, but police put the number at 296,000.
Job cutsJob cuts
The walkouts are not expected to cause the widespread travel chaos of last November when transport workers staged a nine-day strike against Mr Sarkozy' plan to scrap their special pension rights. Thursday's walkouts did not causing the widespread chaos of last November, when transport workers staged a nine-day strike against Mr Sarkozy's plan to scrap their special pension rights.
The government and the unions negotiated an end to the strikes but now workers are upset over plans to make them stay on the job one year longer - for 41 years - before receiving a full state pension. The government and the unions negotiated an end to the strikes but now workers are upset over plans to make all French workers stay on the job one year longer before receiving a full state pension.
Unions are also upset over government plans to cut the numbers of public sector workers. Advertisement
French teachers say cuts in numbers will affect the quality of education Demonstrators rally in Lyon
Unions are also angry at government plans to cut the numbers of public sector workers.
Teachers and students have staged a number of strikes and protests over the plans which would see retiring teachers not replaced.Teachers and students have staged a number of strikes and protests over the plans which would see retiring teachers not replaced.
Unions are hoping that a head of steam is building up against Mr Sarkozy's economic reform plans, says BBC correspondent Hugh Schofield in Paris. However disruption on Thursday was minimised, as unions stuck to a legal commitment to run a minimum service, negotiated with the government last year.
But the president has so far made the calculation that most people accept the changes that he has promised, and there is no sign of him backing down, says our correspondent. Nonetheless, unions are hoping that a head of steam is building up against Mr Sarkozy's economic reform plans, says BBC correspondent Hugh Schofield in Paris.
Mr Sarkozy says the reforms are needed to restore France's economic vitality. The president has so far made the calculation that most people accept the changes that he has promised, and there is no sign of him backing down, our correspondent adds.
Ports blockaded Mr Sarkozy says the current pension system is unsustainable and reforms are needed to bring French state pensions into line with those other EU countries.
The French government offered the fishing industry 110m euros (£88m) after days of protests over rising fuel costs. Port blockades
The fishermen said they were not being adequately compensated to cover their increased costs. Meanwhile, ferry links with the UK remained badly disrupted by separate disputes over rising fuel costs.
Angry fishermen fire flares at police class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7415867.stm">In pictures: French strikes
On Wednesday, protesters clashed with police outside the agriculture ministry in central Paris. French fishermen blockaded several ports earlier this week, to demand compensation to cover their increased costs.
Ferry traffic with the UK ground to a halt as fishing fleets blockaded several French ports, causing traffic to back up on English roads to busy ports such as Dover. The dispute was apparently settled on Wednesday, when the French government agreed to step up aid to the fishing industry.
Pierre-Georges Dachicourt, president of the national fishing committee called on "all fishing crews to return to the sea," but it was not clear whether fishermen would be satisfied enough to end their stoppage. Pierre-Georges Dachicourt, president of the national fishing committee, called on "all fishing crews to return to the sea" and most ports were returning to normal.
And the trouble at the ports may be worsened by a dock workers' plan to strike on Thursday against privatisation. However some fishermen refused to end the protest. In Marseille, crews continued to blockade the port and oil depots.
Meanwhile a separate action by dock workers meant sailings across the English Channel were restricted and there were huge lorry tailbacks on both sides.
Are you in France? Are the strikes affecting you? Are you taking part in the job action?Are you in France? Are the strikes affecting you? Are you taking part in the job action?
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