VOA常速英语2007年-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 demonstrations¹ from Paris.

Teachers, postal² 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 picketing³ transportation workers has dwindled⁴ since the  strike began a week ago, but traffic remained snarled⁵ 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 reiterated⁶ 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 sectors⁷.  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.