By Lisa Bryant
Paris
Strikes Continue to Impact France
A national transportation strike marked its seventh day in France, Tuesday - even as civil servants took to the streets
for a separate one-day strike. Lisa Bryant has more on the demonstrations from Paris.
Teachers, postal workers, air-traffic controllers and other civil servants walked off their jobs Tuesday, calling for
better salaries and working conditions. Many French schools were closed; airports reported flight delays and
cancelations; mail went undelivered; and, many newspapers were not on sale in kiosks because printers also joined the
protesters. A massive march began in Paris Tuesday afternoon, joining others around the country.
The one-day strike comes as transportation workers around the country continue to protest against proposed cuts of
special pension benefits they have enjoyed for decades. The proposals are part of a package of reforms the center-right
government of President Nicolas Sarkozy wants to push through to help make France more competitive and to reduce public
spending.
The number of picketing transportation workers has dwindled since the strike began a week ago, but traffic remained
snarled and public transportation slowed - particularly in the Paris region. The French government says the strike is
costing the country hundreds of millions of dollars a day, a point reiterated Tuesday by French budget minister Eric
Woerth.
In an interview on France-Inter radio, Woerth said the transportation walkout is costing between $440 million and $586
million, daily, and will have long-term consequences, if it continues.
The strike has touched a wide array of sectors. Stores, hotels and theaters complain of a sharp drop in business and the
steel giant ArcelorMittal complains needed supplies traveling by rail remain undelivered.
A number of French universities are also closed, as students protest still other government reforms in the country's
higher education.
ENDS