This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-43617033

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
French SNCF rail strike to defy Macron labour reforms France strike: Rail misery as three-month action tests Macron
(about 4 hours later)
Train drivers and other workers at the French state railway SNCF have begun a major strike that is expected to paralyse rail travel across France. France's rail network has been severely disrupted, as a wave of strikes against President Emmanuel Macron's labour reforms gets under way.
Staff began three months of rolling stoppages on Monday evening as trade unions push back against President Emmanuel Macron's labour reforms. The start of the strike has been dubbed "Black Tuesday", but the action will spread over three months, affecting two days in every five.
It is expected to be the biggest wave of industrial unrest since Mr Macron's election last May. Staff at state railway SNCF are leading the strike, but the energy and waste collection sectors are also affected.
The waste collection, electricity and energy sectors also expect strikes. The unrest presents Mr Macron's biggest challenge since his election last May.
On 22 March, tens of thousands of teachers, nurses and other workers joined rail staff on strike - a sign of widespread opposition to Mr Macron's plans for state sector liberalisation. How is the strike taking hold?
With the four main rail unions observing the strike, services have been severely curtailed. Some 77% of SNCF drivers are on strike, and 48% of all staff.
Only one in eight high-speed TGVs are scheduled and only one in five regional trains.
Commuter lines into Paris have also been slashed and bus services have been hugely overcrowded. Some stations were crammed for the few trains available, others were deserted.
The website that measures car traffic around the capital recorded about 420km (260 miles) of jams at rush hour.
International services are more sketchily affected. Eurostar has 75% of trains running and the Thalys services to Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany is almost normal, but there are no services to Spain, Switzerland or Italy.
Employees of Air France, who are demanding a 6% pay rise, are into the fourth day of industrial action. The airline is operating 75% of its flights.
Unions have also called out all rubbish collectors, to push for the creation of a national collection service and better retirement options. The capital, the north and east, along with Marseilles could be worst affected.
Energy sector unions have also called strikes to demand, among other things, an end to the liberalisation of the energy markets and a review of deregulation.
Can Macron face down the strikers?
Analysis by the BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris
There are three reasons why President Macron feels relatively optimistic about the rail strike.
First, unlike in the last massive (and successful) general strike in 1995, this time there can have been no mistaking the government's intention to reform. Neither the public nor SNCF staff can pretend the planned changes come out of the blue. They are clearly part of the broad reform agenda for which Mr Macron was elected.
Second, there is far less automatic sympathy for the SNCF than there used to be. The level of rail services has declined sharply, especially for commuters, who are as a result more open to calls for reform.
Third, new options have opened up for commuters. There is home-working; car-pooling; expanded coach services. This should make it easier for workers to get round the inconvenience.
All that said, these will be tense weeks for the government. Nerves are going to fray. People will get angry. Daily life will not be easy. In these circumstances, plans can go badly awry. A wrong move and public opinion could easily shift back behind the strikers.
What is the strike about?What is the strike about?
SNCF workers enjoy generous conditions, including automatic annual pay rises, early retirement, 28 days of paid annual leave and protection from dismissal. Their close relatives are also entitled to free rail tickets.SNCF workers enjoy generous conditions, including automatic annual pay rises, early retirement, 28 days of paid annual leave and protection from dismissal. Their close relatives are also entitled to free rail tickets.
But the rail unions feel the action is wider than that, and it will be a major test of union clout.
Just over 11% of the French workforce is unionised - one of the lowest levels in the EU - but the unions traditionally punch above their weight, economically and politically.
"We're defending the French public service, not just rail workers," said Emmanuel Grondein, head of union Sud Rail.
The Macron government wants to phase out the special SNCF contracts, proposing to put new hires on contracts like those that apply elsewhere in industry.The Macron government wants to phase out the special SNCF contracts, proposing to put new hires on contracts like those that apply elsewhere in industry.
The aim is to open up the state railways to competition from 2023, in line with EU requirements. The aim is to open up the state railways to competition from 2023, in line with EU requirements. SNCF has €46.6bn ($57.5bn; £40bn) of debt.
SNCF is struggling with big debts. Mr Macron's Republic On The Move party also feels the strike has wider connotations.
How many services are affected? "We need to rid this country of its strike culture," spokesman Gabriel Attal said.
A senior SNCF manager, Alain Krakovitch, told Le Parisien newspaper that only 12% of high-speed TGV trains would operate on Tuesday, and the low-cost Ouigo service would be at a standstill. Only one in five regional trains would be running, AFP reported. Opposition to Mr Macron's agenda was shown on 22 March, when tens of thousands of teachers, nurses and other workers joined rail staff on strike.
But international services would be only marginally affected, Mr Krakovitch said, with about 75% of Eurostar trains running and about 90% of Thalys services to Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
The railway unions plan to strike two days out of every five until the end of June.
Employees of Air France, who are demanding a 6% pay rise, have already begun industrial action. However most flights are not being affected.
What is at stake for the unions?
The strikes will be a major test of the French trade unions' clout. Just over 11% of the French workforce is unionised - one of the lowest levels in the EU - but the unions traditionally punch above their weight, economically and politically.
The BBC's Lucy Williamson in Paris says many union members see Mr Macron as the man who wants to break the power of the unions.The BBC's Lucy Williamson in Paris says many union members see Mr Macron as the man who wants to break the power of the unions.
Strikes in September failed to stop Mr Macron passing laws that make it easier for firms to hire and fire. But strikes in September failed to stop Mr Macron passing laws that make it easier for firms to hire and fire, and the majority of the public are opposed to industrial action this time.