Roads, railways and refineries hit in two-day French strike
- 8 years ago
Transport workers on the railways and roads have delivered a patchy response to the Communist CGT union’s call for strike action to protest against labour law reforms.
International trains were unaffected but domestic services were cut by 80% in some places, although a minimum service was able to run. With the strike lasting two days it seems many travellers made other plans, and many stations appeared quiet.
On the roads it was lorry drivers who were up in arms at, among other things, overtime bonuses being slashed to 10% from 25%. They blockaded many roads and refineries in the north, creating local petrol shortages, and have called on their driver colleagues in the south to join them.
As the reforms make their way though parliament opposition to them is mounting and protests are spreading. The Socialist government insists they are needed to relaunch the French economy.
International trains were unaffected but domestic services were cut by 80% in some places, although a minimum service was able to run. With the strike lasting two days it seems many travellers made other plans, and many stations appeared quiet.
On the roads it was lorry drivers who were up in arms at, among other things, overtime bonuses being slashed to 10% from 25%. They blockaded many roads and refineries in the north, creating local petrol shortages, and have called on their driver colleagues in the south to join them.
As the reforms make their way though parliament opposition to them is mounting and protests are spreading. The Socialist government insists they are needed to relaunch the French economy.