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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| French unions strike over reforms | French unions strike over reforms |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| France's national rail workers have begun an open-ended strike called in protest at President Nicolas Sarkozy's planned pension reforms. | France's national rail workers have begun an open-ended strike called in protest at President Nicolas Sarkozy's planned pension reforms. |
| Rail employees stopped work at 2000 (1900 GMT) and thousands of commuters will be affected on Wednesday morning. | |
| Utility workers are also set to strike. They may be joined by teachers and civil servants on 20 November. | Utility workers are also set to strike. They may be joined by teachers and civil servants on 20 November. |
| Eurostar says the first train services from London's new St Pancras terminal will be unaffected by the action. | |
| The next few days will be a real test of the French prime minister's nerve, reports the BBC's Emma Jane Kirby from Paris. | |
| "Tomorrow is going to be a hellish day for travellers and perhaps for many days beyond that," Labour Minister Xavier Betrand warned on Tuesday. | "Tomorrow is going to be a hellish day for travellers and perhaps for many days beyond that," Labour Minister Xavier Betrand warned on Tuesday. |
| That view was echoed by Prime Minister Francois Fillon who told parliament: "Millions of French people will be deprived of their fundamental freedom, the freedom of movement and even perhaps to work." | That view was echoed by Prime Minister Francois Fillon who told parliament: "Millions of French people will be deprived of their fundamental freedom, the freedom of movement and even perhaps to work." |
| Mandate for change | Mandate for change |
| Only 90 of the country's 700 high-speed TGV trains are set to run, commuter train services will also be severely reduced, and there will be "almost no" metro service in Paris, metro operator RATP and rail operator SNCF told AFP news agency. | Only 90 of the country's 700 high-speed TGV trains are set to run, commuter train services will also be severely reduced, and there will be "almost no" metro service in Paris, metro operator RATP and rail operator SNCF told AFP news agency. |
| The French people approved these reforms Nicolas Sarkozy | |
| Mr Sarkozy wants to cut pensions that allow some public employees to retire as early as age 50 and says he is determined to stay the course, despite the strike threat. | |
| "I will carry out these reforms right to the end. Nothing will put me off my goal," he told the European Parliament during a visit to Strasbourg, reminding everyone that he was elected on a reform mandate. | "I will carry out these reforms right to the end. Nothing will put me off my goal," he told the European Parliament during a visit to Strasbourg, reminding everyone that he was elected on a reform mandate. |
| "The French people approved these reforms. I told them all about it before the elections so that I would be able to do what was necessary afterwards," AFP quoted him as saying. | "The French people approved these reforms. I told them all about it before the elections so that I would be able to do what was necessary afterwards," AFP quoted him as saying. |
| Our correspondent says that Mr Sarkozy's resolve to stand up to France's powerful unions now faces a real test and his reputation rides on his success. | Our correspondent says that Mr Sarkozy's resolve to stand up to France's powerful unions now faces a real test and his reputation rides on his success. |
| And though he has promised he will stand firm against the strikes, our correspondent adds, at the same time he will be anxious to avoid the kind of street protests which occurred in 1995 when the French government last tried to reform the pension system. | And though he has promised he will stand firm against the strikes, our correspondent adds, at the same time he will be anxious to avoid the kind of street protests which occurred in 1995 when the French government last tried to reform the pension system. |