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Walkout fuels French strike woes France gripped by massive strike
(about 1 hour later)
Hundreds of thousands of civil servants have joined striking transport and energy workers as France is crippled by a second week of industrial action. Hundreds of thousands of civil servants have joined striking transport and energy workers as France is paralysed by a second week of industrial action.
Postal workers, teachers, air traffic controllers and hospital staff are holding a 24-hour stoppage to protest against planned pay and job cuts. Teachers, postal workers, air traffic controllers and hospital staff are holding a 24-hour stoppage over planned job cuts and higher wage demands.
Students are continuing demonstrations at plans for more university autonomy. Students are continuing to demonstrate over university funding plans.
It could end up as the biggest protest over President Nicolas Sarkozy's reform plans since he took power in May. Many thousands joined street protests in Paris, Rouen, Strasbourg, Marseille, Grenoble, Lyon and other cities.
It could end up as the biggest show of defiance at President Nicolas Sarkozy's reform plans since his election in May.
The latest nationwide stoppage left many schools closed, hospitals providing a reduced service and newsagents without newspapers.The latest nationwide stoppage left many schools closed, hospitals providing a reduced service and newsagents without newspapers.
Sarkozy's silenceSarkozy's silence
The French capital's two airports and Marseille airport in the south suffered delays and cancellations.The French capital's two airports and Marseille airport in the south suffered delays and cancellations.
The civil servants' purchasing power has dramatically lowered. I think they have the right to go on strike Paris commuter Strike fever hits France France's workplace anger In pictures: Strikes spreadThe civil servants' purchasing power has dramatically lowered. I think they have the right to go on strike Paris commuter Strike fever hits France France's workplace anger In pictures: Strikes spread
French energy workers, who began a third 24-hour strike on Monday night, have cut nearly 9% of capacity at nuclear plants, union officials said.French energy workers, who began a third 24-hour strike on Monday night, have cut nearly 9% of capacity at nuclear plants, union officials said.
Rail and bus workers are on their seventh day of an indefinite stoppage against planned pension cuts. And rail and bus workers are on their seventh day of an indefinite stoppage against planned pension cuts.
Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said the dispute was costing France up to 400m euros (£290m) a day.Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said the dispute was costing France up to 400m euros (£290m) a day.
Half of the country's high-speed TGV trains were operating on Tuesday, while in Paris only one metro train in three was in service and less than half of buses were expected to run.Half of the country's high-speed TGV trains were operating on Tuesday, while in Paris only one metro train in three was in service and less than half of buses were expected to run.
State rail operator SNCF, which is due to hold talks with transport unions on Wednesday, says the number of its workers on strike had fallen since last week.
STRIKERS' GRIEVANCES Teachers, civil servants oppose job cuts and want more payNewspaper distributors angry at planned restructuringTransport workers on strike for a week over pension reformsStudents protest at changes they say could exclude poorSTRIKERS' GRIEVANCES Teachers, civil servants oppose job cuts and want more payNewspaper distributors angry at planned restructuringTransport workers on strike for a week over pension reformsStudents protest at changes they say could exclude poor
State rail operator SNCF says the number of its workers on strike had fallen since last week. But with traffic gridlock on the capital's roads on Tuesday morning, the stoppage still caused havoc for commuters.
The strikes have caused havoc for millions of commuters across France and massive traffic jams built up on roads into the capital again on Tuesday morning. BBC world affairs correspondent Nick Childs says the French president has been keeping a low profile, perhaps to test the public mood.
BBC world affairs correspondent Nick Childs says the French president's recent public absence is striking, though he may be avoiding confrontation to test the mood. Mr Sarkozy may wish to avoid a counter-productive confrontation, but his public absence risks being construed as a sign of weakness, our correspondent says.
But our correspondent says keeping quiet could be seen as uncertainty and weakness, leading to sentiment turning against Mr Sarkozy if the disruption drags on. Opinion polls suggest voters back the French leader's plans to reform "special" pensions which allow transport and utility workers to retire early, but a majority sympathises with civil servant grievances.
Opinion polls suggest voters back the French leader's pension reforms but a majority sympathises with the civil servants' pay and job cut grievances.
Analysts say Mr Sarkozy is attempting to succeed where his predecessor Jacques Chirac failed, by standing firm against the strikers and completing his reforms.Analysts say Mr Sarkozy is attempting to succeed where his predecessor Jacques Chirac failed, by standing firm against the strikers and completing his reforms.
Walking to work in the centre of Paris, commuter Guy Cousserant, 56, told Reuters: "A small group of people are holding the country hostage. It's lamentable, very annoying."Walking to work in the centre of Paris, commuter Guy Cousserant, 56, told Reuters: "A small group of people are holding the country hostage. It's lamentable, very annoying."
But one woman in the capital told AP news agency: "The civil servants' purchasing power has dramatically lowered. I think they have the right to go on strike."But one woman in the capital told AP news agency: "The civil servants' purchasing power has dramatically lowered. I think they have the right to go on strike."
The education ministry said 40% of teachers had walked out but union officials said the figure was more like 60%.
Eight unions representing 5.2 million state employees - around a quarter of the entire workforce - say their spending power has fallen 6% since 2000, though the government disputes that figure.Eight unions representing 5.2 million state employees - around a quarter of the entire workforce - say their spending power has fallen 6% since 2000, though the government disputes that figure.
'SPECIAL' PENSIONS SYSTEM 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 Can street protests succeed? Solidarity amid French crisis
They also oppose plans to cut 23,000 jobs in 2008, half in education.They also oppose plans to cut 23,000 jobs in 2008, half in education.
Students are continuing to block access to campus buildings in half of the country's 85 universities.Students are continuing to block access to campus buildings in half of the country's 85 universities.
'SPECIAL' PENSIONS SYSTEM 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 Can street protests succeed? Solidarity amid French crisis
They have been protesting since the start of November over plans to let faculties pursue non-government funding.They have been protesting since the start of November over plans to let faculties pursue non-government funding.
The transport workers' strike was triggered by plans to scrap "special" pensions privileges enjoyed by half a million staff. Prime Minister Francois Fillon said on Monday the government was ready to talk with unions but insisted it would not budge on plans to overhaul the French economy.
SNCF bosses are due to hold talks with transport unions on Wednesday.
The government has relaxed its earlier stance on refusing talks unless strikers returned to work.
On Monday Prime Minister Francois Fillon said rail traffic must "progressively restart" for talks to take place.
But he insisted the government would not budge on its commitment to overhaul the French economy, saying it had a mandate to reform.
Will you be affected by the strike, or are you taking part in it? Send us your comments on this story by filling out the form below.Will you be affected by the strike, or are you taking part in it? Send us your comments on this story by filling out the form below.
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