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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| France set for nationwide strike | France set for nationwide strike |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| France is bracing itself for a second nationwide strike in two months by protesters urging the government to do more to protect jobs and wages. | |
| Public and private sector workers are expected to join the marches and services in schools, hospitals and transport are likely to be disrupted. | Public and private sector workers are expected to join the marches and services in schools, hospitals and transport are likely to be disrupted. |
| President Nicolas Sarkozy says he understands the worries of the people. | President Nicolas Sarkozy says he understands the worries of the people. |
| But he insists there is nothing more his government can do to help those struggling in the financial crisis. | But he insists there is nothing more his government can do to help those struggling in the financial crisis. |
| Beleaguered industries | Beleaguered industries |
| Three-quarters of French people support the strike, claiming the 2.4bn euros ($3.2bn; £2.3bn) offered by the government earlier this year is not enough to protect jobs and wages. | Three-quarters of French people support the strike, claiming the 2.4bn euros ($3.2bn; £2.3bn) offered by the government earlier this year is not enough to protect jobs and wages. |
| Unemployment is likely to shoot up to 10% in the next 12 months with a further 350,000 lay offs expected by the end of this year. | Unemployment is likely to shoot up to 10% in the next 12 months with a further 350,000 lay offs expected by the end of this year. |
| Unions are calling on the president to scrap his plans to cut public-sector jobs and to reverse tax cuts. | Unions are calling on the president to scrap his plans to cut public-sector jobs and to reverse tax cuts. |
| Private-sector workers from the beleaguered car industry, oil and retail sectors will also be on the streets - many are angry that big companies like the oil giant Total is making staff redundant while simultaneously announcing record profits. | Private-sector workers from the beleaguered car industry, oil and retail sectors will also be on the streets - many are angry that big companies like the oil giant Total is making staff redundant while simultaneously announcing record profits. |
| In January more than one million people took part in demonstrations - this time, the protest may be even bigger with 200 cities and towns across France calling for a day of action. | In January more than one million people took part in demonstrations - this time, the protest may be even bigger with 200 cities and towns across France calling for a day of action. |