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Paris: French commuters faced another struggle to work as some transport unions extended a national strike into a second day yesterday in protest at President Nicolas Sarkozy's plan to scrap their pension privileges.
But a split among unions meant a third of mainline and intercity trains were running on the state-run SNCF network, a day after an almost total shutdown of national rail traffic.
The Paris suburban rail network remained heavily disrupted yesterday. Minor scuffles broke out as early morning commuters battled trying to get on and off packed metro trains.
Rail and power unions called the strike to force Sarkozy to compromise over his plan to end the right of some state workers to retire on a full pension as early as 50 or 55 years old.
However, the unions' united front appeared under strain yesterday, prompting the head of the main CGT union to appeal for unity to maintain pressure on the government.
"There will be a follow up if necessary," CGT boss Bernard Thibault said.
"For that to be effective it has to attract at least as many people as today and to do that, you have to prepare for it. And preparing for it means unity of the unions involved."
The government wants to put state employees paying into so-called "special regimes" on an equal footing with civil servants and private sector workers, increasing their contribution period from 37.5 years to 40 years.
Sarkozy's spokesman acknowledged the strong turnout had been expected but said the government would not back down.
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