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http://www.newsmax.com/international/france_strikes/2007/11/20/50794.html
French Civil Servants Join Rail Protest
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
PARIS -- Civil servants, from teachers to air traffic controllers, began a
mass walkout Tuesday, the seventh day of a transport strike that has wreaked
havoc on French rails. But the government said it would not cede on planned
reforms.
Despite the increased pressure on President Nicolas Sarkozy, the government
stood firm, with Prime Minister Francois Fillon saying the reforms must go
through _ even though the rail strikes are costing the country at least
$439.6 million a day.
Budget Minister Eric Woerth told France Inter radio on Tuesday that the
strike by public transport workers could have an impact on France's economic
growth if it lasts.
Strikes led by train drivers angry over Sarkozy's plans to raise their
retirement age have hampered rail traffic and public transport in Paris for
a week.
On Tuesday, schools, postal and tax services fell victim to a strike by
civil servants seeking higher salaries and job security as the government
works to whittle down the bureaucracy. Air traffic, too, was expected to be
affected.
Simmering student protests that have disrupted classes at dozens of
universities added yet another dimension to the angry fallout from Sarkozy's
efforts to jolt France into a more competitive era.
But authorities continued to refuse to meet union demands.
Government spokesman Laurent Wauquiez said Tuesday that a state
representative will not be at the negotiating table Wednesday with rail
workers _ as unions have stipulated _ unless more strikers return to work.
"We have always been very clear about this," he said on RTL radio. "If we
want talks with everyone at the table, each must do his part."
In fact, authorities have backed off slightly from the original government
position of no talks during strikes. But Fillon, the prime minister, said
Monday that rail traffic must "progressively restart" before the talks can
begin.
There were no immediate signs that the various movements planned to fuse
their efforts _ simultaneous but separate _ into a single blanket protest.
Rail workers were not expected to join an afternoon protest march in Paris
by striking civil servants _ although students may.
The conservative president, who has often jumped into disputes to sort them
out himself, has remained curiously silent about the strike.
Sarkozy was elected in May on promises to reform France _ from its courts to
its creaking university system, its army of civil servants to rail workers
whose special retirement privileges he vowed to erase.
Taking on the transport workers has proved to be especially thorny _ and
costly.
The strikes are costing the French economy between $439.6 million and $512.7
million a day, Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said Monday.
Civil servants seeking pay hikes moved to center stage Tuesday. Up to half
of teachers could stay off the job, officials have said. Air traffic
controllers fall into the civil servants' category, disruptions are
expected. Air France, whose personnel were taking part in the job action,
said flights, mainly domestic, would be modified from Marseilles and Paris'
Orly airports.
National newspapers couldn't be found Tuesday as printers and delivery
personnel join the strike. Though not state workers, they are using the
opportunity to protest job cuts.
Students also were joining Tuesday's protest. Knots of students have been
blocking universities around France for two weeks to protest a law passed
this summer allowing universities more autonomy to seek nongovernment
income. They fear the changes mean schools will close their doors to the
poor.
In a clear bid to appease, the minister in charge of civil servants'
affairs, Woerth, said he hoped to conclude a new salary agreement soon _ the
first in 10 years.
But the head of the FSU union, speaking for civil servants, warned the
government not to dismiss their complaints.
"They seem to believe this is just a movement of anger that will pass,"
Gerard Aschieri said, adding that "this is to underestimate the discontent."
French Civil Servants Join Rail Protest
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
PARIS -- Civil servants, from teachers to air traffic controllers, began a
mass walkout Tuesday, the seventh day of a transport strike that has wreaked
havoc on French rails. But the government said it would not cede on planned
reforms.
Despite the increased pressure on President Nicolas Sarkozy, the government
stood firm, with Prime Minister Francois Fillon saying the reforms must go
through _ even though the rail strikes are costing the country at least
$439.6 million a day.
Budget Minister Eric Woerth told France Inter radio on Tuesday that the
strike by public transport workers could have an impact on France's economic
growth if it lasts.
Strikes led by train drivers angry over Sarkozy's plans to raise their
retirement age have hampered rail traffic and public transport in Paris for
a week.
On Tuesday, schools, postal and tax services fell victim to a strike by
civil servants seeking higher salaries and job security as the government
works to whittle down the bureaucracy. Air traffic, too, was expected to be
affected.
Simmering student protests that have disrupted classes at dozens of
universities added yet another dimension to the angry fallout from Sarkozy's
efforts to jolt France into a more competitive era.
But authorities continued to refuse to meet union demands.
Government spokesman Laurent Wauquiez said Tuesday that a state
representative will not be at the negotiating table Wednesday with rail
workers _ as unions have stipulated _ unless more strikers return to work.
"We have always been very clear about this," he said on RTL radio. "If we
want talks with everyone at the table, each must do his part."
In fact, authorities have backed off slightly from the original government
position of no talks during strikes. But Fillon, the prime minister, said
Monday that rail traffic must "progressively restart" before the talks can
begin.
There were no immediate signs that the various movements planned to fuse
their efforts _ simultaneous but separate _ into a single blanket protest.
Rail workers were not expected to join an afternoon protest march in Paris
by striking civil servants _ although students may.
The conservative president, who has often jumped into disputes to sort them
out himself, has remained curiously silent about the strike.
Sarkozy was elected in May on promises to reform France _ from its courts to
its creaking university system, its army of civil servants to rail workers
whose special retirement privileges he vowed to erase.
Taking on the transport workers has proved to be especially thorny _ and
costly.
The strikes are costing the French economy between $439.6 million and $512.7
million a day, Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said Monday.
Civil servants seeking pay hikes moved to center stage Tuesday. Up to half
of teachers could stay off the job, officials have said. Air traffic
controllers fall into the civil servants' category, disruptions are
expected. Air France, whose personnel were taking part in the job action,
said flights, mainly domestic, would be modified from Marseilles and Paris'
Orly airports.
National newspapers couldn't be found Tuesday as printers and delivery
personnel join the strike. Though not state workers, they are using the
opportunity to protest job cuts.
Students also were joining Tuesday's protest. Knots of students have been
blocking universities around France for two weeks to protest a law passed
this summer allowing universities more autonomy to seek nongovernment
income. They fear the changes mean schools will close their doors to the
poor.
In a clear bid to appease, the minister in charge of civil servants'
affairs, Woerth, said he hoped to conclude a new salary agreement soon _ the
first in 10 years.
But the head of the FSU union, speaking for civil servants, warned the
government not to dismiss their complaints.
"They seem to believe this is just a movement of anger that will pass,"
Gerard Aschieri said, adding that "this is to underestimate the discontent."
