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France industrial unrest: Open-ended rail strike takes hold | France industrial unrest: Open-ended rail strike takes hold |
(35 minutes later) | |
An open-ended rail strike is taking hold in France just nine days before the country hosts the Euro 2016 football tournament. | An open-ended rail strike is taking hold in France just nine days before the country hosts the Euro 2016 football tournament. |
Only 60% of high-speed trains and between a third and a half of other services are expected to run, according to the state rail company (the SNCF). | Only 60% of high-speed trains and between a third and a half of other services are expected to run, according to the state rail company (the SNCF). |
Trade unions are protesting against work time changes but the strike comes amid general labour unrest. | Trade unions are protesting against work time changes but the strike comes amid general labour unrest. |
The wider protests are over a bill to shake up the labour market. | The wider protests are over a bill to shake up the labour market. |
The bill comes before the Senate this month, having passed through the lower house without a vote. | The bill comes before the Senate this month, having passed through the lower house without a vote. |
France's Socialist President, Francois Hollande, insists it will not be withdrawn despite months of unrest which erupted into street clashes between protesters and police at marches last Thursday. | France's Socialist President, Francois Hollande, insists it will not be withdrawn despite months of unrest which erupted into street clashes between protesters and police at marches last Thursday. |
Leading conservative opposition politician Nicolas Sarkozy has accused him of getting "everything wrong from the start" in his handling of the crisis. | Leading conservative opposition politician Nicolas Sarkozy has accused him of getting "everything wrong from the start" in his handling of the crisis. |
"Pushing [the bill] through by force cuts out debate," the former president said in an interview with magazine Valeurs Actuelles, due to be published on Thursday. | "Pushing [the bill] through by force cuts out debate," the former president said in an interview with magazine Valeurs Actuelles, due to be published on Thursday. |
"If you don't accept the debate of ideas in parliament, then it moves to the streets." | "If you don't accept the debate of ideas in parliament, then it moves to the streets." |
French labour reform bill - main points | French labour reform bill - main points |
Strike action led by the powerful CGT union began on Tuesday evening. | |
High-speed services to the UK and Germany (Eurostar and Alleo) are said to be normal but just 40% of Ellipsos services to Spain and a third of SVI services to Italy are expected to run. | |
The dispute centres on proposed changes to weekly rest provisions for train drivers. | |
The CGT has also called for a strike on the Paris Metro and other public transport services in the capital on Thursday. | |
A strike at oil refineries continued on Tuesday but fuel supplies to petrol stations have improved markedly, AFP news agency reports. | |
The next national day of action by trade unionists is due on 14 June, when the labour reform goes to the Senate. | |
Air transport is also expected to be disrupted this month by industrial action not linked directly to the labour law reform. | |
Have you been affected by the strikes? Do you have plans to travel to France in the coming days? | Have you been affected by the strikes? Do you have plans to travel to France in the coming days? |
Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Contact us on WhatsApp number +44 (0)7525 900971 | Contact us on WhatsApp number +44 (0)7525 900971 |
Text us on 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 if you are outside the UK | Text us on 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 if you are outside the UK |
Or you can comment here: | Or you can comment here: |