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Transport hit by French strikers Transport hit by French strikers
(about 1 hour later)
Rail and air services in France have been disrupted as public and private sector workers stage a one-day strike linked to the economic crisis.Rail and air services in France have been disrupted as public and private sector workers stage a one-day strike linked to the economic crisis.
Hundreds of thousands of workers were expected to take part in rallies across the country to demand government action to protect jobs and wages. More than a million workers have joined rallies to demand action to jobs and wages, the AFP news agency reports.
Many trains were cancelled, and a third of flights out of one Paris airport. Despite the show of public support, the strike appeared to be falling short of the paralysis forecast by unions.
But despite public support, the strike appeared to be falling short of the paralysis forecast by unions. Regional trains and those in and around Paris were hit, and a third of flights from Orly airport were cancelled.
Regional trains and those in and around Paris were being affected, officials said.
Forty per cent of regional services were running, operator SNCF said, and 60% of high-speed TGV services. Three-quarters of Metro trains were running in Paris.Forty per cent of regional services were running, operator SNCF said, and 60% of high-speed TGV services. Three-quarters of Metro trains were running in Paris.
A third of flights out of Paris' second airport, Orly, were cancelled, but those out of the larger Charles de Gaulle hub were experiencing only short delays, AFP news agency said. Economic woes at heart of strikeFrance takes strike in its strideA third of flights out of Paris' second airport, Orly, were cancelled, but those out of the larger Charles de Gaulle hub were experiencing only short delays, AFP news agency said. Economic woes at heart of strikeFrance takes strike in its stride
Schools, banks, hospitals, post offices and courts were also hit as workers stayed at home. Officials said just over a third of teachers and a quarter of postal and power company workers were on strike.Schools, banks, hospitals, post offices and courts were also hit as workers stayed at home. Officials said just over a third of teachers and a quarter of postal and power company workers were on strike.
Overall, some 23% of the country's public sector workers are thought to have joined the action.
Many workers were gathering in Paris for a mass demonstration in the afternoon.
The protests are against the worsening economic climate in France and at what people believe to be the government's poor handling of the crisis.The protests are against the worsening economic climate in France and at what people believe to be the government's poor handling of the crisis.
According to a 25 January poll by CSA-Opinion for Le Parisien, 69% of the French public backs the strike.According to a 25 January poll by CSA-Opinion for Le Parisien, 69% of the French public backs the strike.
"I'm tired and frozen after waiting half-an-hour on the platform," commuter Sandrine Dermont told AFP as she arrived by train in Paris."I'm tired and frozen after waiting half-an-hour on the platform," commuter Sandrine Dermont told AFP as she arrived by train in Paris.
"But I'm prepared to accept that when it's a movement to defend our spending power and jobs. I'll join the street protests during my lunch break," she said."But I'm prepared to accept that when it's a movement to defend our spending power and jobs. I'll join the street protests during my lunch break," she said.
Hit hardHit hard
Last summer, President Nicolas Sarkozy boasted that these days when there is a strike in France, nobody notices, says the BBC's Emma-Jane Kirby in Paris.Last summer, President Nicolas Sarkozy boasted that these days when there is a strike in France, nobody notices, says the BBC's Emma-Jane Kirby in Paris.
But this time, our correspondent adds, the strike will hit hard.But this time, our correspondent adds, the strike will hit hard.
Many people are angry French banks were given a multi-billion euro bail-out while floundering industries and businesses were offered far less help.Many people are angry French banks were given a multi-billion euro bail-out while floundering industries and businesses were offered far less help.
Commuters at St Lazare station in ParisCommuters at St Lazare station in Paris
With unemployment looking likely to hit 10% by next year, the French are now looking for assurances from their president that he will drop his programme of cost cutting reforms and instead turn his attention to relaunching the ailing economy, our correspondent says.With unemployment looking likely to hit 10% by next year, the French are now looking for assurances from their president that he will drop his programme of cost cutting reforms and instead turn his attention to relaunching the ailing economy, our correspondent says.
"We want to show how the people are dissatisfied with the situation at the moment," Thierry Dedieu of the CFDT general workers' union told the BBC."We want to show how the people are dissatisfied with the situation at the moment," Thierry Dedieu of the CFDT general workers' union told the BBC.
People had the feeling they were paying for a crisis they were not responsible for, he added.People had the feeling they were paying for a crisis they were not responsible for, he added.
But earlier in the week, French Finance Minister Eric Woerth condemned the strike organisers, accusing them of scare-mongering during a time of economic uncertainty.But earlier in the week, French Finance Minister Eric Woerth condemned the strike organisers, accusing them of scare-mongering during a time of economic uncertainty.
"There are other ways to make oneself heard than striking," he said."There are other ways to make oneself heard than striking," he said.
"Blocking a country, preventing transport from working, bothering people when they are still extraordinarily worried and fearful of the future, is adding fear on top of fear, worry on top of worry.""Blocking a country, preventing transport from working, bothering people when they are still extraordinarily worried and fearful of the future, is adding fear on top of fear, worry on top of worry."
Will you be taking part in the strike? Will you be affected by this action? Send us your comments using the form below:Will you be taking part in the strike? Will you be affected by this action? Send us your comments using the form below:
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