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France endures third strike day French unions to continue strike
(about 6 hours later)
Most of France's rail network remains disrupted for a third day as protests continue against President Nicolas Sarkozy's pension reforms. Transport workers in France have voted to continue a national strike over the weekend, protesting against President Nicolas Sarkozy's pension reforms.
Most of France's rail network remained disrupted for a third day on Friday.
But there are signs that support for the strike is waning, with increasing numbers of employees returning to work.
Unions have said they are still waiting for an agreement on the conditions under which talks between government, unions and employers can take place.Unions have said they are still waiting for an agreement on the conditions under which talks between government, unions and employers can take place.
Labour minister Xavier Bertrand has said talks can begin only when union leaders call off the strike.Labour minister Xavier Bertrand has said talks can begin only when union leaders call off the strike.
The unions want to continue the walkout during any negotiations.The unions want to continue the walkout during any negotiations.
Friday saw a slight increase in the number of trains and metros running but millions of people still faced long delays and struggled to get to and from work, with many resorting to going by foot, cycling or roller-blading along traffic-choked roads. Friday saw a slight increase in the number of trains and metros running but millions of people still faced long delays and struggled to get to and from work, with many resorting to going on foot, cycling or roller-blading along traffic-choked roads.
Only 200 of the usual 700 TGV high-speed trains were running.Only 200 of the usual 700 TGV high-speed trains were running.
Two metro lines in Paris were closed completely, and about one in three buses were running. Two metro lines in Paris were closed completely, and about one in three buses was running.
Millions of commuters in Germany are also facing big delays on the third day of a national strike by train drivers over a pay dispute. Fewer than one third of train drivers took part in the strike on Friday, down from 61.5% in the first full day of walkouts on Wednesday, the state-run SNCF train company said.
Millions of commuters in Germany are also experiencing big delays on the third day of a national strike by train drivers over a pay dispute.
Deutsche Bahn says it will not make a new pay offer, and drivers' unions have raised the prospect of open-ended strikes.Deutsche Bahn says it will not make a new pay offer, and drivers' unions have raised the prospect of open-ended strikes.
Uncertain outlook 'Uncontrolled elements'
The French government says it is ready to begin new negotiations with unions but only when the strike is called off.The French government says it is ready to begin new negotiations with unions but only when the strike is called off.
"We need a call on the part of the unions in the companies concerned for work to resume so that immediately - I repeat: immediately - tripartite talks can open, talks demanded by those same trade unions," Mr Bertrand told French RTL radio on Friday."We need a call on the part of the unions in the companies concerned for work to resume so that immediately - I repeat: immediately - tripartite talks can open, talks demanded by those same trade unions," Mr Bertrand told French RTL radio on Friday.
'SPECIAL' PENSIONS SYSTEM Benefits 1.6m workers, including 1.1m retireesApplies in 16 sectors, of which rail and utilities employees make up 360,000 peopleAccount for 6% of total state pension paymentsShortfall costs state 5bn euros (£3.5bn; $6.9bn) a yearSome workers can retire on full pensions aged 50Awarded to Paris Opera House workers in 1698 by Louis XIV In pictures: French strikes Can street protests succeed? Solidarity amid French crisis Have you been affected?'SPECIAL' PENSIONS SYSTEM Benefits 1.6m workers, including 1.1m retireesApplies in 16 sectors, of which rail and utilities employees make up 360,000 peopleAccount for 6% of total state pension paymentsShortfall costs state 5bn euros (£3.5bn; $6.9bn) a yearSome workers can retire on full pensions aged 50Awarded to Paris Opera House workers in 1698 by Louis XIV In pictures: French strikes Can street protests succeed? Solidarity amid French crisis Have you been affected?
A drop in the number of strikers showed that "there are now more workers who want to go back to work" than those who want to continue the strike, he said.A drop in the number of strikers showed that "there are now more workers who want to go back to work" than those who want to continue the strike, he said.
"All the conditions are in place to allow us to end this strike as soon as possible," Mr Bertrand added."All the conditions are in place to allow us to end this strike as soon as possible," Mr Bertrand added.
But seven rail unions have rejected an offer of fresh talks on pension reform and the BBC's Alastair Sandford in Paris says the outlook for the weekend remains uncertain.
Early on Friday some strikers prevented trains from leaving Argenteuil train depot, west of Paris, by placing flares and firecrackers on the tracks.Early on Friday some strikers prevented trains from leaving Argenteuil train depot, west of Paris, by placing flares and firecrackers on the tracks.
"It's scandalous and absolutely unacceptable," said Guillaume Pepy, executive director of the SNCF rail authority. "It's scandalous and absolutely unacceptable," said Guillaume Pepy, executive director of SNCF.
"A number of uncontrolled strikers or elements from outside the company have caused disorder by putting hand flares, firecrackers and detonators that are security devices on the tracks to prevent trains from running.""A number of uncontrolled strikers or elements from outside the company have caused disorder by putting hand flares, firecrackers and detonators that are security devices on the tracks to prevent trains from running."
Sud Rail union confirmed the incident, saying the strikers were targeting a smaller union of independent train drivers who are not taking part in the strike.Sud Rail union confirmed the incident, saying the strikers were targeting a smaller union of independent train drivers who are not taking part in the strike.
"There will be more of these actions, and not only at Argenteuil," warned Dominique Malvaud from Sud Rail."There will be more of these actions, and not only at Argenteuil," warned Dominique Malvaud from Sud Rail.
Public sector perksPublic sector perks
The government is facing industrial conflict on several fronts. Students are stepping up protests over university reforms and next week, teachers and civil servants are due to strike over job cuts.The government is facing industrial conflict on several fronts. Students are stepping up protests over university reforms and next week, teachers and civil servants are due to strike over job cuts.
Only a minority of trains are running across France Commuters have faced difficult journeys to work
Some French commuters sided with Mr Sarkozy, saying the reforms were needed.Some French commuters sided with Mr Sarkozy, saying the reforms were needed.
"I work in the private sector here in France, and do not actually benefit from all the wonderful perks that come with a public sector job - 35-hour working weeks, five weeks paid vacation, early retirement," Kim Marohn told the BBC news website. "I work in the private sector here in France, and do not actually benefit from all the wonderful perks that come with a public sector job - 35-hour working weeks, five weeks' paid vacation, early retirement," Kim Marohn told the BBC news website.
But Paris teacher Colette Catrina said she did support the unions: But Paris teacher Colette Catrina said she did support the unions.
"The majority of my work colleagues supported the movement because it is at the core of their main worries about pension reforms. They all will be on strike themselves on 24 November to ask for pay rises and protest against reforms which favour wealthy and well off people," she said. "The majority of my work colleagues supported the movement because it is at the core of their main worries about pension reforms. They all will be on strike themselves on 24 November to ask for pay rises and protest against reforms which favour wealthy and well-off people," she said.
The strike began on Tuesday night and follows a previous walkout on 18 October.The strike began on Tuesday night and follows a previous walkout on 18 October.
The last time a French government tried to overhaul "special" pensions was in 1995 and it sparked three weeks of strikes that forced then-President Jacques Chirac to climb down.The last time a French government tried to overhaul "special" pensions was in 1995 and it sparked three weeks of strikes that forced then-President Jacques Chirac to climb down.
But the polls have so far broadly supported Mr Sarkozy, who says France can no longer afford to let some public service employees retire on a full pension as early as 50.But the polls have so far broadly supported Mr Sarkozy, who says France can no longer afford to let some public service employees retire on a full pension as early as 50.