Transportation, public sector strikes disrupt France
17/11/2008 17:35
France faces a week of disruptions caused by strikes in the transportation
and public sectors as leading unions campaign against the government's labor
reforms.
Air France passengers faced cancellations and delays for a third day
yesterday after the airline's pilots voted to pursue their four-day strike, due
to end late today.
Air France said yesterday that about 65 percent to 70
percent of its long-haul flights and about half of its short and medium-haul
flights would be in service today.
The strike, which began Friday, was called
to protest proposals to raise the retirement age of flight crew members from 60
to 65. The strike caused hundreds of domestic and international flights to be
cancelled and could cost Air France 100 million euros.
Transport Minister
Dominique Bussereau pledged Friday that the government will guarantee pilots'
right to retire at 60. But pilots still voted yesterday to continue their strike
as planned.
Travel chaos could spread to the railways Tuesday when railway
staff hold the first of two strikes to protest the proposed changing of working
hours.
The last strike of France's state-owned railway company SNCF on Nov. 6
caused big disruptions.
There will also be a demonstration Thursday by
teachers over budget cuts and working conditions. High school and university
students will join the action.
Postal workers will strike Saturday to show
opposition to the privatization of the Post Office.
"It is urgent to deal
with the social situation," Bernard Thibault, the head of CGT, one of France's
biggest unions, told France Info radio. He urged President Nicolas Sarkozy to
pay the same attention to workers' demands as the financial
crisis.
Xinhua
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