Unions begin Sarkozy showdown
French President Nicolas Sarkozy faced a crucial test of his planned reforms today with an indefinite train strike that will also hit the Paris Metro.
Union leaders warned the walkout, called to protest at his plans to cut pensions, could last for weeks and employees of State-run electricity, gas and other services could join the action.
France’s national SNCF train company predicted major disturbances on fast lines starting tonight.
SNCF said the Eurostar linking Paris and London would be unaffected but that trains to neighbouring Belgium could run 30 minutes late.
Only one of the capital’s 14 Metro lines is expected to run normally from tomorrow.
Unions are angry over plans to scrap special early retirement rules for train drivers and other public service workers.
A one-day strike in October did not deter Mr Sarkozy from going ahead with the pension reform, which his employment minister Xavier Bertrand today called “indispensable,” adding it was “unthinkable” that the government would back down.
Before the strike’s start at 7pm Irish time, the head of the SNCF, Anne-Marie Idrac, said talks were the only solution. “The earlier we get out of this, the better for everyone,” she said.
Widespread power cuts were not expected, though localised ones targeting sites like the headquarters of Mr Sarkozy’s conservative party were a possibility.
The Comedie Francaise theatre and Paris’ National Opera, whose employees also stand to be affected by the pension reforms, cancelled tomorrow’s performances.
Unrest also is brewing against planned university reforms.
Students wielding metal bars kept workers from entering buildings today at a university in Rennes, where protests suspended classes.
In Nanterre, in Paris’ western suburbs, students clashed with riot police who fired tear gas. Police succeeded in opening doors to the university, though classes remained cancelled.
Scattered demonstrations have also been reported other universities.
Students are protesting a new law aimed at making France’s public universities more market-friendly by giving them the right to raise tuition fees and accept private donations.
