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Friday, Oct 19, 2007
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International

Transport strike brings France to a halt

Vaiju Naravane

Sarkozy’s fledgling presidency faces its first major challenge

Paris: Nicolas Sarkozy’s fledgling presidency faced its first major challenge on Thursday as thousands of French transport workers brought the country to a standstill in response to his plans to extend the retirement age and cut down on generous, “special” pension packages to certain sections of workers.

Postal and hospital employees as well as electricity and gas workers, journalists, some civil servants and teachers also joined the strike.

The streets of Paris were eerily empty on Thursday as thousands of French commuters preferred to stay at home rather than brave huge traffic dislocation.

However, the newly introduced system of bicycle hire, Velib proved invaluable for many office goers and there was not a free bike in sight.

Nationwide rail traffic was at a near standstill with just 46 TGV high-speed trains running out of the normal 700, and Paris metro and bus networks laid on only a skeleton service.

Invoking social equity, the President has begun moves to lengthen contribution periods for these workers from 37.5 years to 40, closer in line with other public and private sector employees.

Pension dispute

Currently some railway staff can retire on a full pension at the age of 50. These special pensions cost the exchequer a hefty €4 billions per year. This is the first time since the massive three-week-long strike in 1995 that the country’s unions have given a joint strike call.

The strike in 1995 ended in a humiliating retreat for the government.

But Mr. Sarkozy has announced he will not back down. The unions may take the movement further if the government fails to respond favourably to their demands.

Bernard Thibault of the General Labour Confederation (CGT) said that the strikers had been forced to take action by the government’s intransigence.

Police reported 165 km of traffic jams on access roads into the capital — twice the normal amount. However fears of disruption at airports proved unfounded.

Street demonstrations were planned in some 60 towns and cities, as trade unions try to force Mr. Sarkozy to drop plans to reform France’s so-called “special” pension systems enjoyed by 1.6 million rail, energy and other workers.

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