Christmas Tree 4920 Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 Millions To March In France As Strikes Bite Millions are expected to march in support of strikes in France that have hit rail and air transport and left rubbish piling up in city streets The country has already endured four days of walkouts over plans to raise the nation's retirement age from 60 to 62. The government is determined to push ahead with the legislation, saying it is the only way to a stop a 32bn euro annual pension shortfall ballooning to 50bn euros by 2020. Union leaders want to bring enough people onto the nation's streets to make the government think again. Meanwhile, the ongoing strikes will continue to disrupt rail networks and air travel at the weekend. Industrial action at oil ports and all the France's 12 refineries has put pressure on petrol and diesel supplies across the country. Runway worker strikes at Paris' Orly airport grounded some Air France flights out of the capital on Friday. The main Parisian airport Roissy-Charles de Gaulle might run out of fuel by the end of the weekend. Striking refuse workers have also left piles of uncollected rubbish around the southern French port city of Marseille for the fourth consecutive day. Maxime Dumont, head of the CFDT union's trucking section, said drivers could block fuel depots, refineries and food warehouses and clog roads by driving slowly along them. "In the transport sector, we can do a bit more to help the workers. We are going to join the movement to make the government give way," Mr Dumont said. Adding to the problems, Eurostar services between London and Brussels will be cancelled from Sunday night through Monday due to a walkout in Belgium. French unions said demonstrations on Tuesday drew 3.5 million people onto the streets - France's interior ministry put the figure at 1.23 million. The government's main worry for the weekend is students becoming rowdy. Riot police used tear gas on Friday to disperse crowds in the city of Lyon. Dozens of students were arrested across the country and several police were injured. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted October 17, 2010 Share Posted October 17, 2010 One thing about the French is that they don't give up their rights without a fight, not like us. Quick moan on the train all forgotten. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted October 17, 2010 Share Posted October 17, 2010 Keep Calm and Carry On. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasepud 59 Posted October 17, 2010 Share Posted October 17, 2010 French sheep must be shitting bricks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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