Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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November 13, 2007

France Braces for Another Major Transportation Strike
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1A3BB6D:A6F02AD83191E1605AB1600C3EC9E4DDF47489ACC27D21EE& Strikers oppose
government plan to scrap special pension benefits for small percentage
of workers France is bracing for its second major transportation
strike in a month, beginning Tuesday evening. From Paris, Lisa Bryant
reports - although most French do not support the strike - it reflects
wider discontent against reforms proposed by the country's
conservative government.







A commuter squeezes between closing doors of rare departing regional
train at Saint Lazare railway station in Paris (File)The strike is
expected to paralyze public transportation service, across the
country, and may last until the week's end.  The strikers oppose
government plans to scrap special pension benefits for a small
percentage of workers.  But unions see the walkout also as a way to
flex their muscles and many see it as a major test to French President
Nicolas Sarkozy's vows to push through wide-ranging reforms.

The strike comes less than a month after a similar October walkout
brought public transportation to a halt.   Again, busses, subways and
trains will be functioning only sporadically - if at all. 
International train service is also expected to be effected.

The French government has called for talks, rather than strikes - an
appeal aired once again by government spokesman Yves Jego.

In an interview on France-Info radio, Jego called for negotiations
with unions.  However,  he says the government will not back down on
reforms it vowed it would push through.

The strikes recall similar unrest in 1995, against proposed government
reforms former French President Jacques Chirac eventually repealed.

This time, some 55 percent of French are against the strike, according
to a a new survey by France's BVA polling institute.


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