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Strike misery in France drags on Strike prolongs French rail chaos
(about 11 hours later)
French workers face more misery on Friday as transport struggles to return to normal after a nationwide strike. Continuing strike action by French transport workers is disrupting rail services, with only about half of Paris metro trains operating.
The 24-hour strike began on Wednesday at 2000 local time (1800 GMT). Two of France's eight transport unions voted to extend the 24-hour strike which began on Wednesday at 2000 local time (1800 GMT).
However, operators say transport will remain severely disrupted and one smaller union has decided to stay out on strike. There are big traffic jams in the Paris area, the French AFP news agency says.
The strike was over planned reforms to pensions. Union leaders will meet on Monday to decide whether to hold more large-scale strikes. The protest is over plans to end retirement privileges which let some workers retire at 50 on full pensions.
President Nicolas Sarkozy says the special pension arrangements for some transport and energy workers are a relic of the past.
"The president was elected on a reform agenda and he will carry out these reforms," his spokesman David Martinon told French LCI television.
Workers held demonstrations across France on Thursday French commuter misery Send us your comments The state-run rail company SNCF said it could guarantee that services would be half-way back to normal by Friday evening.
Only a third of mainline and intercity SNCF trains were running on Friday morning.
Union leaders will meet on Monday to decide whether to hold more large-scale strikes.
However, the government has pledged to continue with its pension reform plans.However, the government has pledged to continue with its pension reform plans.
Opinion polls suggest that 60% of French people oppose the strike.
Rugby finalRugby final
French state rail company SNCF said it would try to return to normality but warned services would be "very disrupted" on Friday morning with the smaller union staying out. There have been fears that the strike might delay fans travelling to the final matches of the rugby World Cup on Friday night and Saturday.
One-third of trains in Paris would run in the morning rising to two-thirds by the evening, it said.
Paris metro trains were packed at rush hour on Thursday
The Paris metro and rail operator RAPT warned only one in three metro trains would be running in the morning.
There have been fears of ferrying fans to the final matches of the rugby World Cup on Friday night and Saturday.
SNCF reassured England fans that Eurostar services would be normal from Friday ahead of the final.SNCF reassured England fans that Eurostar services would be normal from Friday ahead of the final.
On Thursday, several commuter rail lines were closed, bus and tram services faced disruption in 27 major cities, and just 46 TGV fast trains were running out of the normal 700.On Thursday, several commuter rail lines were closed, bus and tram services faced disruption in 27 major cities, and just 46 TGV fast trains were running out of the normal 700.
With only one Parisian subway train in 10 running on most lines, the capital's new Velib self-service bicycle scheme recorded twice as many users than normal.With only one Parisian subway train in 10 running on most lines, the capital's new Velib self-service bicycle scheme recorded twice as many users than normal.
And thousands of striking workers marched through the streets, setting off firecrackers and sounding horns in one of several protests planned across the country.And thousands of striking workers marched through the streets, setting off firecrackers and sounding horns in one of several protests planned across the country.
Unions claimed the action was the biggest for several years, with three-quarters of workers at SNCF joining the strike.
The strikes are the biggest test so far of President Sarkozy's reform package.The strikes are the biggest test so far of President Sarkozy's reform package.
He argues that the "special" pension systems, which are enjoyed by 1.6 million rail, energy and other workers, are a relic of the past. His predecessor Jacques Chirac tried to abolish special pension regulations when he came to power in 1995, but backed down after three weeks of strikes.