The last time a French president squared off against rail unions over workers’ benefits it ended badly. “We’re defending the French public service, not just rail workers,” said Emmanuel Grondein, head of Sud Rail, one of the four unions behind the industrial action. SNCF workers fear they could lose job-for-life guarantees, automatic annual pay rises and a generous early retirement policy. The Communist-rooted CGT wants the strike to spread beyond the rail sector. The CGT has called for public and private sector workers nationwide to strike on April 19, but in a sign of union division, private sector unions have so far declined.

Source: Egypt Independent April 03, 2018 08:37 UTC