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| France industrial unrest: Open-ended strike brings rail misery | France industrial unrest: Open-ended strike brings rail misery |
| (1 day later) | |
| An open-ended rail strike is under way in France just nine days before the country hosts the Euro 2016 football tournament. | An open-ended rail strike is under way 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| France's Socialist President, Francois Hollande, insists it will not be withdrawn despite months of unrest which erupted into street clashes between protesters and police at marches last Thursday. | France's Socialist President, Francois Hollande, insists it will not be withdrawn despite months of unrest which erupted into street clashes between protesters and police at marches last Thursday.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 |
| 'You think of gullets and your pay' | 'You think of gullets and your pay' |
| Strike action led by the powerful CGT union began on Tuesday evening - the eighth railway strike in France in three months. | Strike action led by the powerful CGT union began on Tuesday evening - the eighth railway strike in France in three months. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Commuters vented their anger with the SNCF on social media. For one, the journey to work was "worse than travelling to another continent". | Commuters vented their anger with the SNCF on social media. For one, the journey to work was "worse than travelling to another continent". |
| Another wrote, "You think of your stomach and your pay... What about thinking of us now and again?" while someone remarked, "Oh lovely. Even the ticket machines are on strike." | Another wrote, "You think of your stomach and your pay... What about thinking of us now and again?" while someone remarked, "Oh lovely. Even the ticket machines are on strike." |
| However, a poll in the Journal du Dimanche newspaper suggests 46% of French people still support the unions' calls. | However, a poll in the Journal du Dimanche newspaper suggests 46% of French people still support the unions' calls. |
| Jean, a pensioner from the southern city of Marseille, told AFP news agency he "wholeheartedly supported" the strikes despite delays to his train journey. | Jean, a pensioner from the southern city of Marseille, told AFP news agency he "wholeheartedly supported" the strikes despite delays to his train journey. |
| The dispute centres on proposed changes to weekly rest provisions for train drivers. | 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 but the disruption is expected to be minimal. | The CGT has also called for a strike on the Paris Metro and other public transport services in the capital on Thursday but the disruption is expected to be minimal. |
| "This week will see the strongest mobilisation in three months" of strikes, CGT leader Philippe Martinez said on Tuesday evening. | "This week will see the strongest mobilisation in three months" of strikes, CGT leader Philippe Martinez said on Tuesday evening. |
| Air transport is also expected to be disrupted this month by industrial action not linked directly to the labour law reform. | Air transport is also expected to be disrupted this month by industrial action not linked directly to the labour law reform. |
| A strike at oil refineries continued on Tuesday but fuel supplies to petrol stations have improved markedly, AFP reports. | A strike at oil refineries continued on Tuesday but fuel supplies to petrol stations have improved markedly, AFP reports. |
| The next national day of action by trade unionists is due on 14 June, when the labour reform goes to the Senate. | The next national day of action by trade unionists is due on 14 June, when the labour reform goes to the Senate. |