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French strike brings travel chaos French strike brings travel chaos
(about 3 hours later)
France is suffering travel chaos after transport and energy workers broadened a strike in protest against President Nicolas Sarkozy's pension reform.France is suffering travel chaos after transport and energy workers broadened a strike in protest against President Nicolas Sarkozy's pension reform.
Rail services were severely disrupted and energy production reduced in the open-ended action over cuts affecting some 500,000 public sector workers.Rail services were severely disrupted and energy production reduced in the open-ended action over cuts affecting some 500,000 public sector workers.
Thousands of commuters were forced to improvise their journey to work.Thousands of commuters were forced to improvise their journey to work.
The government and the unions have resumed talks but there are fears the stoppage could last for several days.The government and the unions have resumed talks but there are fears the stoppage could last for several days.
The BBC's Alasdair Sandford in Paris says that with students, teachers, civil servants and even magistrates threatening strike action over separate issues, the fear for the government is that this becomes a general wave of protest against economic hardship.The BBC's Alasdair Sandford in Paris says that with students, teachers, civil servants and even magistrates threatening strike action over separate issues, the fear for the government is that this becomes a general wave of protest against economic hardship.
Contingency plansContingency plans
Labour Minister Xavier Bertrand was meeting unions on Wednesday to seek a resolution. 'SPECIAL' PENSIONS Benefits 1.6m workers, including 1.1m retireesApplies in 16 sectors, of which rail and utilities employees make up 360,000 peopleAccount for 6% of total state pension paymentsShortfall costs state 5bn euros (£3.5bn; $6.9bn) a yearSome workers can retire on full pensions aged 50Awarded to Paris Opera House workers in 1698 by Louis XIV class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7094525.stm">Can street protests succeed? class="" href="/1/hi/business/7094152.stm">Economic tensions
He had earlier warned that Wednesday would be "a hellish day for travellers and perhaps for many days beyond that". Labour Minister Xavier Bertrand met unions on Wednesday to seek a resolution.
'SPECIAL' PENSIONS Benefits 1.6m workers, including 1.1m retireesApplies in 16 sectors, of which rail and utilities employees make up 360,000 peopleAccount for 6% of total state pension paymentsShortfall costs state 5bn euros (£3.5bn; $6.9bn) a yearSome workers can retire on full pensions aged 50Awarded to Paris Opera House workers in 1698 by Louis XIV He had earlier warned of "a hellish day for travellers and perhaps for many days beyond that".
Rail employees stopped work at 2000 (1900 GMT) on Tuesday. Only 90 of the country's 700 high-speed TGV trains are running and commuter services are also sharply reduced. Fewer than a quarter of trains were running normally nationwide after rail employees walked out on Tuesday evening.
The metro service in Paris is running at 20% capacity, metro operator RATP said, with only 15% of bus services in operation. Only 90 of the country's 700 high-speed TGV trains are running and commuter services are sharply reduced.
Commuters were forced to improvise their journey to work - driving in earlier than usual, car sharing or taking to bikes and roller blades. The metro service in Paris is operating at 20% capacity, metro operator RATP said, with only 15% of bus services in operation.
Early on Wednesday, more than 300km (190 miles) of traffic jams were reported on roads heading into Paris, twice the daily average. But the inaugural Eurostar service to London's new St Pancras terminal was not affected.
"I'm pretty hacked off about the strike. Why? Because my husband is a truck driver, who drives 14 hours a day, who has no bonuses, who has five weeks paid annual leave, who will retire at 60. And he says nothing," Christine Meyer, a commuter at a central Paris train station, told Reuters news agency. Across France, commuters were forced to find other ways to get to work - driving in earlier than usual, car sharing or roller blading.
Others commuters blamed President Sarkozy for the walk-out, saying he was pushing through change too quickly. The French capital's popular new self-service bicycle system, Velib, was much in demand.
More than 300km (190 miles) of traffic jams, twice the daily average, reportedly clogged roads into Paris on Wednesday morning.
Energy production, meanwhile, was hit as around three out of ten employees of electricity group EDF and at gas company GDF walked out.
The strike cut about 12% of production capacity at EDF, France's sole nuclear power generator, but the energy giant said there was no risk of power cuts.
Mandate for changeMandate for change
Mr Sarkozy wants to cut pensions that allow some public service employees to retire on a full pension as early as 50 and says he is determined to stay the course, despite the strike threat. Singers at the Paris opera and actors at the Comedie Francaise have joined the wave of industrial action, forcing the cancellation of performances.
Students blocked some entrances to the renowned Sorbonne campus of the University of Paris, prompting tensions with other students and professors trying to push their way into school.
"I'm pretty hacked off about the strike. Why? Because my husband is a truck driver, who drives 14 hours a day, who has no bonuses, who has five weeks paid annual leave, who will retire at 60. And he says nothing," Christine Meyer, a commuter at a central Paris train station, told Reuters news agency.
STRIKE SPREADS RAIL: Seven of eight unions at the state-owned SNCF rail company began an open-ended strike on 13 NovemberPARIS METRO/BUS: Five of eight unions joined an open-ended strike on 14 NovemberENERGY: Seven unions at state-owned EDF and GDF utilities strike on 14 NovemberPARIS OPERA HOUSE: Four unions representing staff join strike on 14 November. Open-ended strike by La Comedie Francaise, the state theatreSTRIKE SPREADS RAIL: Seven of eight unions at the state-owned SNCF rail company began an open-ended strike on 13 NovemberPARIS METRO/BUS: Five of eight unions joined an open-ended strike on 14 NovemberENERGY: Seven unions at state-owned EDF and GDF utilities strike on 14 NovemberPARIS OPERA HOUSE: Four unions representing staff join strike on 14 November. Open-ended strike by La Comedie Francaise, the state theatre
Others commuters blamed President Sarkozy for the walk-out, saying he was pushing through change too quickly.
The last time a government tried to overhaul "special" pensions was in 1995 and it sparked three weeks of strikes that forced then-president Jacques Chirac to climb down.
But Mr Sarkozy insists France can no longer afford superannuation deals which allow some public service employees to retire on a full pension as early as 50 and he has vowed to stay the course.
"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," he said."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," he said.
But a spokesman for the CGT trade union disagreed with Mr Sarkozy's logic.But a spokesman for the CGT trade union disagreed with Mr Sarkozy's logic.
"If reforms for the French citizen means that they are going to be working more and getting less pension at the end of the deal, I'm not quite sure all the French are agreeing with this approach," Oliver Sekai told the BBC. "If reforms for the French citizen means they are going to be working more and getting less pension at the end of the deal, I'm not quite sure all the French are agreeing with this approach," Oliver Sekai told the BBC.
However, the head of the CFTC union, Jacques Voisin, expressed "very measured optimism" that the government could offer concessions that would lead to an end of the strike.However, the head of the CFTC union, Jacques Voisin, expressed "very measured optimism" that the government could offer concessions that would lead to an end of the strike.
Analysts say 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.Analysts say 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, they say, at the same time he will be anxious to avoid the kind of street protests that occurred in 1995 when the French government last tried to reform the pension system.
Have you been affected by the strike? How did you get around the delays? Do you support the walk-out? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC please use the form below.Have you been affected by the strike? How did you get around the delays? Do you support the walk-out? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC please use the form below.
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