Rail strike takes hold in France

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AFP

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Services are being sharply reduced across France

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).

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 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France’s Socialist President, Francois Hollande, insists it will not be withdrawn despite months of unrest which erupted into street clashes between protesters and police at marches last Thursday.

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.

“If you don’t accept the debate of ideas in parliament, then it moves to the streets.”

• What are French workers complaining about?


• Stakes rise in French labour protests


• French jokes about fuel shortages

• The 35-hour week remains in place, but as an average. Firms can negotiate with local trade unions on more or fewer hours from week to week, up to a maximum of 46 hours.


• Firms are given greater freedom to reduce pay.


• The law eases conditions for laying off workers, which is strongly regulated in France. It is hoped companies will take on more people if they know they can shed jobs in case of a downturn.


• Employers to get more leeway to negotiate holidays and special leave, such as maternity or for getting married. These are currently also heavily regulated.

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