Wednesday, 23 November 2005PARIS (Reuters) - A nationwide rail strike caused new delays for commuters in France on Wednesday but trade unions were set to end the stoppage after several hours of talks with the SNCF railway operator over pay and pensions.
The strike, which began on Monday evening, has added to the troubles of France's conservative government as it struggles to deal with the aftermath of three weeks of rioting by youths in poor suburbs protesting against unemployment and discrimination.
Union members were expected to vote early on Wednesday to end the sixth strike to hit the SNCF this year. A separate strike began late on Tuesday on the Paris Metro but has not caused serious disruption.
"We took action, and that allowed us to have talks and to make advances on certain issues," Didier Le Reste, leader of the railway branch of the CGT union, told France Info radio.
After long negotiations on union demands over pay, bonuses and pensions, as well as union concerns that the company will be privatised, SNCF chairman Louis Gallois has also voiced optimism for an end of the strike.
"I think the message the unions sent this evening was a clear message to resume work," Gallois said on Tuesday.
Gallois has said the company would lose about 20 million euros a day during the strike.
French rail traffic remained disrupted, although there were fewer cancellations than on Tuesday.
"I walked a large stretch of the way. It just takes longer," one commuter at a central Paris train station said.
President Jacques Chirac called on Tuesday for talks to end the stoppage, reiterating promises that SNCF would not be privatised. Unions fear privatisation could mean job losses.
The government has shown a clear desire to avoid serious labour unrest after being shaken by France's worst urban violence in almost 40 years, led by youths in poor suburbs who feel excluded from mainstream society.
The government has already faced warning strikes by hundreds of thousands of people this autumn over low pay, an unemployment rate of almost 10 percent and falling living standards.
Reuters via swissinfo |
Wednesday, 23 November 2005
swissinfo.org
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