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Sarkozy calls for end to strikes | Sarkozy calls for end to strikes |
(about 7 hours later) | |
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for a speedy end to transport strikes against his pension reforms. | French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for a speedy end to transport strikes against his pension reforms. |
His spokesman said the action ought to stop "in the interest of passengers" now that conditions for talks with the unions on the package had been created. | His spokesman said the action ought to stop "in the interest of passengers" now that conditions for talks with the unions on the package had been created. |
Rail and bus services were crippled in Wednesday's action and more disruption is expected on Thursday. | |
Germany is also facing rail disruption, as train drivers hold a three-day strike over a pay demand. | |
Deutsche Bahn says it will not make a new pay offer, and drivers' unions have raised the prospect of open-ended strikes. | |
The company estimates that 50% of regional trains will run on Thursday, but only 20% in greater Berlin and 40% in the Hamburg area. | |
'Annoying millions' | |
Hopes of a breakthrough in the French disputes were raised after Mr Sarkozy said conditions for talks had been met. | |
"The president of the republic has always considered there is more to be gained for all parties in negotiation than in conflict," said Mr Sarkozy's spokesman David Martinon. | "The president of the republic has always considered there is more to be gained for all parties in negotiation than in conflict," said Mr Sarkozy's spokesman David Martinon. |
The strike began on Tuesday night and follows a previous walkout on 18 October. | The strike began on Tuesday night and follows a previous walkout on 18 October. |
Prime Minister Francois Fillon was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying the government was outlining a deal to unions to stop "a strike that is... annoying millions of French people". | Prime Minister Francois Fillon was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying the government was outlining a deal to unions to stop "a strike that is... annoying millions of French people". |
Labour Minister Xavier Bertrand has been holding a series of meetings with unions, whose leaders signalled their readiness to make a deal. | Labour Minister Xavier Bertrand has been holding a series of meetings with unions, whose leaders signalled their readiness to make a deal. |
Jacques Voisin, head of the CFTC union, said after meeting the minister: "Let's not waste any time... let's negotiate." | Jacques Voisin, head of the CFTC union, said after meeting the minister: "Let's not waste any time... let's negotiate." |
'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 In pictures: French strikes Can street protests succeed? Solidarity amid French crisis | '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 In pictures: French strikes Can street protests succeed? Solidarity amid French crisis |
Bernard Thibault, head of the powerful CGT union, appeared to retreat from a previous demand for national talks by saying he would accept negotiations on a company-by-company basis. | Bernard Thibault, head of the powerful CGT union, appeared to retreat from a previous demand for national talks by saying he would accept negotiations on a company-by-company basis. |
In Paris on Wednesday, more than 50,000 people took to the streets to protest against Mr Sarkozy's reforms. Other demonstrations were held across France. | In Paris on Wednesday, more than 50,000 people took to the streets to protest against Mr Sarkozy's reforms. Other demonstrations were held across France. |
Nationwide fewer than a quarter of trains and only 90 of the 700 high-speed TGVs ran normally, while just one in five subway trains on the Paris metro and only 15% of bus services were operating. | Nationwide fewer than a quarter of trains and only 90 of the 700 high-speed TGVs ran normally, while just one in five subway trains on the Paris metro and only 15% of bus services were operating. |
Across France, commuters were forced to find other ways to get to work - car sharing, cycling or roller blading along traffic-choked roads. | Across France, commuters were forced to find other ways to get to work - car sharing, cycling or roller blading along traffic-choked roads. |
In Wednesday's other developments:
| In Wednesday's other developments:
|
It is not clear if energy workers will continue to strike on Thursday, although they have voted to continue a blockade of the liquefied natural gas terminal at Fos-sur-Mer to Friday. | It is not clear if energy workers will continue to strike on Thursday, although they have voted to continue a blockade of the liquefied natural gas terminal at Fos-sur-Mer to Friday. |
The last time a French 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 the polls have so far broadly supported Mr Sarkozy, who says France can no longer afford to let some public service employees retire on a full pension as early as 50. | But the polls have so far broadly supported Mr Sarkozy, who says France can no longer afford to let some public service employees retire on a full pension as early as 50. |