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| New nationwide strike hits France | New nationwide strike hits France |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of thousands of French workers are expected to join the country's second nationwide strike in two months. | Hundreds of thousands of French workers are expected to join the country's second nationwide strike in two months. |
| Unions are protesting against President Nicolas Sarkozy's economic policies. Unemployment has reached two million and is expected to rise further. | Unions are protesting against President Nicolas Sarkozy's economic policies. Unemployment has reached two million and is expected to rise further. |
| Demonstrations are planned in about 200 towns and cities. Schools are to close and public transport faces disruption. | Demonstrations are planned in about 200 towns and cities. Schools are to close and public transport faces disruption. |
| Organisers predict the protest will be bigger than one in January, when more than a million people took part. | |
| "More coaches had to be booked for the demonstrators for example," Bernard Thibault, the head of France's biggest union, the CGT, said. | |
| "More stoppages and strikes have been decided on in companies, so there will be more people," he added. | |
| Beleaguered industries | |
| The strikes began on Wednesday evening with staff on transport networks. | The strikes began on Wednesday evening with staff on transport networks. |
| FRENCH UNIONS vs GOVERNMENT Union demands Increase minimum wageReverse 50% cap on income taxSuspend public sector job cutsMeasures to protect employment Government stimulus plan 11bn euros to help businesses improve cashflows11bn euros of direct state investment4bn euros of investment by state-owned firms in modernisation2.65bn euros of tax breaks, and increases in family welfare and short-term unemployment benefits | |
| The national rail operator, SNCF, predicted that 40% of high-speed trains would be cancelled and up to 60% of local services. | The national rail operator, SNCF, predicted that 40% of high-speed trains would be cancelled and up to 60% of local services. |
| Buses and trains were disrupted on Thursday morning but not as badly as on previous strike days, the BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris reports. | Buses and trains were disrupted on Thursday morning but not as badly as on previous strike days, the BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris reports. |
| The Metro rail system in Paris is running normally, he says. | The Metro rail system in Paris is running normally, he says. |
| However, the disruption is set to increase as protesters take to the streets for the organised rallies in some 213 towns and cities later. | However, the disruption is set to increase as protesters take to the streets for the organised rallies in some 213 towns and cities later. |
| Many schools and public buildings are staying closed for the day. Hospitals and air travel are also facing disruption. | |
| Private-sector firms are also expected to be affected as workers from the beleaguered car industry, oil and retail sectors take part. | |
| Rising unemployment | Rising unemployment |
| The unions say the 26bn euro ($35bn; £24.5bn) stimulus package for France's struggling economy, unveiled by President Nicolas Sarkozy in December, does not go far enough. | |
| More than one million people rallied in January | |
| A further 2.4bn euros ($3.2bn; £2.3bn) of measures, including tax breaks and social benefits, presented by President Sarkozy after January's strike has failed to placate them. | |
| They want him to increase the minimum wage and scrap his plans to cut public-sector jobs. | They want him to increase the minimum wage and scrap his plans to cut public-sector jobs. |
| Recent polls show three-quarters of French people support the strikers. | |
| Many commuters on Thursday said they backed the action, but hoped it would be short-lived. | |
| "Fundamentally I agree, but too much is too much," one was quoted as saying. "There are strikes in the transport sector too often and we have to put up with them." | |
| President Sarkozy said on Wednesday that he "understands the concerns of the French people" but has ruled out plans for further measures. | |
| 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. |
| Many people are angry that big companies like the oil giant Total is making staff redundant while simultaneously announcing record profits, the BBC's Emma Jane Kirby in Paris says. | |
| Are you taking part in the French strike? Are you affected by the strike action? Tell us your experiences by using the form below. | Are you taking part in the French strike? Are you affected by the strike action? Tell us your experiences by using the form below. |
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| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |