French transport workers block trains as strike enters third day

Paris: Striking French rail workers blocked trains on Friday as their nationwide protest at planned pension reforms entered a third day, despite a call by the government to return to work to let talks begin.

Millions of commuters faced more frustration as disruptions continued on the rail and metro services, even though more trains and buses were running again. Strikers early on Friday prevented trains from leaving a Paris area depot by placing handflares and firecrackers on the tracks.

“It’s scandalous and absolutely unacceptable,” said Guillaume Pepy, executive director of the SNCF rail authority. “A number of uncontrolled strikers or elements from outside the company have caused disorder by putting handflares, firecrackers and detonators that are security devices on the tracks to prevent trains from running.”

The hardline Sud Rail union confirmed the incident at the Argenteuil train depot, west of Paris, saying the strikers were targeting a smaller union of independent train drivers who are not taking part in the strike.

“There will be more of these actions, and not only at Argenteuil,” warned Dominique Malvaud from Sud Rail.

French transport workers are striking over government pension reform plans. President Nicolas Sarkozy in September announced plans to end special schemes that allow half a million public transport and utility employees to retire as early as 50.

But the government and the union leadership have moved to re-start negotiations, easing concerns that France was headed toward a drawn-out strike and possible repeat of the 1995 showdown.

Source: mumbaimirror.com