STRIKE DISRUPTS FRENCH TRANSPORT (BBC News)

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Workers in France have begun a strike which has severely disrupted the country's transport system, especially the railway network.

The 24-hour strike began on Wednesday at 2000 local time (1800 GMT).

Trade unions called the strike in protest against the reform of special pension schemes enjoyed by a minority of state sector workers.

In the past, transport strikes have caused massive disruption and put pressure on political leaders.

Soon after the strike started the national railway company SNCF reported many cancellations of its high-speed TGV trains, out of which only about 7% are expected to be in normal service.

Eurostar cross-channel trains will also be affected, but SNCF said only five trains would be suspended between Paris and London.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7049102.stm

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1. FRANCE PREPARES FOR BLACK THURSDAY AS UNIONS STAGE NATIONAL RAIL STRIKE

· Workers in walkout over president's reform plans
· Threat to pension rights triggers action

Angelique Chrisafis in Paris
Thursday October 18, 2007
The Guardian

Nicolas Sarkozy's iron will to face down trade unions and modernise France meets its first test today as a national strike threatens to paralyse public transport, shut down the Paris Opera and disrupt fans travelling to the Rugby World Cup.
Dubbed "Black Thursday" by unions, Parisian commuters face at least 24 hours of chaos and cities across France will be left without viable transport as workers take to the streets for the first time over the president's reforms.


Railway staff and other transport unions will lead 70 marches across France to protest at Mr Sarkozy's plans to axe the special pensions privileges enjoyed by certain state workers. These generous packages have allowed a number of employees at state-controlled companies to retire early on highly favourable terms. But Mr Sarkozy wants to end the special deals and streamline the costly state sector.
The president claims he has the "political courage" to reform France's work practices and will not cave in to strikes as his predecessors have done.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2193253,00.html

[RufusTFirefly]

2. Hooray for the French workers!

Sure, it's inconvenient, but it shows at least that labor in France still has some life in it.
All too often, over here in the States when faced with oppression, we just whine and change the channel.

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3. Not this time! See this link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2073981

This time it's got legs. Or wheels!

[RufusTFirefly]

4. Great news, redacted. Thank you. I stand corrected!! n/t

[backscatter712]

5. THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT!!!

It's not just holding up signs and marching around.

It's about disruption.

It's about bringing business as usual to a grinding halt, and making the corporatist pigs who depend on us to make them rich bleed money until they cry uncle.

It's economic warfare, and we'll continue to get our faces ground into the dirt until we learn to make them bleed.