Rail strike affects train services across France

Local and national train traffic across France has been disrupted due to an industrial action by railway workers against unpopular labor reforms proposed by the government of President Francois Hollande.

According to Press TV, France’s national rail company, SNCF, said a third of the country’s high speed trains are being canceled on Wednesday.

Only half of suburban trains are circulating on certain lines in the French capital, Paris.

Wednesday’s rail strike is set to run until Friday morning.

However, the work stoppage will not affect international lines as Eurostar trains to London and Thalys trains to Brussels are expected to run normally. In addition, Paris subway is not disrupted by the strike.

Rail unions argue that the government’s planned changes to the labor law will negatively affect their working hours.

Also on Wednesday, some truck drivers continued their industrial action that had started a day earlier, blocking roads around cities in western France.

Port workers further joined the striking railway workers as Brittany Ferries announced mass cancellations of connections between the UK and northern France.

The French government says the proposed labor reforms focus on maximum working hours, holidays as well as breaks, and are aimed at curbing the country's unemployment rate.

Protesters and workers’ unions, however, say the government wants to make it easier and less costly for employers to lay off workers.

SS