Massive strike rocks France
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Massive strikes on Tuesday not only caused service suspensions in France's highway and metro systems, the labor strife also dealt another blow to the just-reshuffled government that sustained a blow in regional elections.
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| People demonstrate in Paris, as part of a nationwide day of protest against job cuts, wages, the high cost of living and plans for pension reform. [Xinhua] |
State railway operator SNCF said 28.3 percent of its workers were striking across the country until 11:00.
On its website, SNCF recommended all travelers to confirm their trip before leaving due to unreliable schedules affected by the strike.
Public traffic like buses and trams did not issue any strike announcement, but local reports confirmed that in several major cities demonstrations were affecting ground traffic to varying extents.
The French post system said 11.45 percent of its staff had stopped working on Tuesday morning.
According to data from the education ministry, an average of 21.7 percent of teachers in secondary schools went on strike, however, the SNUipp-FSU, teachers' union of French primary schools, said that 52 percent of its teachers were on strike in the morning.
The country's powerful labor union CGT called for a day of protest over wages and pensions throughout France, reflecting another setback for the ruling party after regional elections in which the conservative endured a loss of 21 regions in the mainland.
France is administratively divided into 26 regions, of which 22 are on the mainland while four are overseas.
Since a majority of voters had expressed hope for a reformed government, President Nicolas Sarkozy swiftly announced an adjustment to the lineup of ministers late Monday. He ousted former Labor Minister Xavier Darcos and changed two other ministers.
