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France hit with protests against pension plan reform
Strikes hobbled train service around France on Thursday on a day of protests against a pension plan reform that the government says is needed to fill emptying funds.
- AP
- Published: 13:35 May 22, 2008
- Image Credit: AP
- Commuters walk at Gare du Nord train station in Paris on Thursday during the strike by French SNCF railway workers.
Paris: Strikes hobbled train service around France on Thursday on a day of protests against a pension plan reform that the government says is needed to fill emptying funds.
The state-run train authority, the SNCF, estimated half of Paris suburban trains and two-thirds of long-haul trains were running. International services like the Eurostar to London were not expected to be affected.
Air France said there could be some delays because of a walkout by some of its staff at the smaller of the two Paris airports, Orly. There was almost no fallout from the strike on the Paris Metro.
The strike, mainly by transport workers but also involving other civil servants, is the latest against a series of reforms by President Nicolas Sarkozy who came to office a year ago on a vow to modernise France.
Unions are protesting government plans for people to work 41 years before collecting a full pension instead of 40.
Some 100 demonstrations were planned around France.
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