France faces more disruption as strikes continue
Sunday, 18 November 2007
PARIS, Nov 17 (Reuters): France suffered a third day of transport disruption yesterday as a hard core of union resistance held out against a planned pension reform and protesters blocked some trains that were running.
The open-ended strike has developed into a trial of strength over one of the key economic reforms promised by President Nicolas Sarkozy and grass-roots union resistance appears to have hardened as workers called for the stoppage to continue.
Rail operator SNCF said protesters had blocked trains at stations in Paris and a number of other centres including the northern city of Lille.
"There have been occupations of rail lines, alarm signals activated, flares have been lit and obstacles have even been placed on some lines," the SNCF said, adding that it strongly condemned the "illegal actions" by some strikers.
Government and unions agreed earlier this week on the need to resume negotiations over the reforms, which centre around plans to hike the retirement age for some workers, raising hopes that the transport stoppage would be short-lived.
However, strikers around the country have voted to continue their walkout and union leaders have now asked the government for further details about the format for any negotiations.
Labour Minister Xavier Bertrand said union leaders had to call off the strikes before any meetings were possible.
Strikers picketing the Gare Saint Lazare, one of the main Paris stations, said they were determined to continue their action, despite signs that some of the union leadership was looking for a way out.
The open-ended strike has developed into a trial of strength over one of the key economic reforms promised by President Nicolas Sarkozy and grass-roots union resistance appears to have hardened as workers called for the stoppage to continue.
Rail operator SNCF said protesters had blocked trains at stations in Paris and a number of other centres including the northern city of Lille.
"There have been occupations of rail lines, alarm signals activated, flares have been lit and obstacles have even been placed on some lines," the SNCF said, adding that it strongly condemned the "illegal actions" by some strikers.
Government and unions agreed earlier this week on the need to resume negotiations over the reforms, which centre around plans to hike the retirement age for some workers, raising hopes that the transport stoppage would be short-lived.
However, strikers around the country have voted to continue their walkout and union leaders have now asked the government for further details about the format for any negotiations.
Labour Minister Xavier Bertrand said union leaders had to call off the strikes before any meetings were possible.
Strikers picketing the Gare Saint Lazare, one of the main Paris stations, said they were determined to continue their action, despite signs that some of the union leadership was looking for a way out.