Nearly 50 Cities Hit by French Transport StrikeA one-day strike by transport workers hobbled bus and subway services in nearly 50 cities throughout France on Monday.All major cities except Paris were affected by Monday's strike, the third since March 26. But trains, buses and subway systems were paralyzed in many places, including France's second-largest city, Marseille, and the central city of Lyon. Workers went on strike to demand the right to retire at 55 instead of 60, but talks in Paris with management broke down Monday, and unions threatened another strike May 2. No further talks were scheduled. "There is no point meeting again and again if it's only to repeat the same positions," said Olivier de Hillerin, a spokesman for the transport union. Paris' buses and subways have been spared the strikes since the capital's transport workers already have the right to retire by 55. A separate strike planned in Paris on Wednesday, however, was expected to disrupt bus and subway service as unions demand that more staff be hired. |
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