French rail strike weakens after month of disruptions

PARIS, April 23 (KUNA -- The number of strikers at French national rail operator SNCF dropped dramatically Monday compared to when the stoppages first began at the beginning of April, the rail operator said.
The percentage of striking workers at the company was only 17.45 percent on Monday compared with 22.73 percent on April 19, according to informaiton from the operator.
In early April, amost 34 percent of employees at the SNCF walked off the job, practically paralysing national and urban traffic.
Unions at the SNCF say they are striking Monday and Tuesday to protest government reforms and the plan to open up the State-owned entity to outside competition, in line with European regulations. Labour conditions for new employees are also to be made less advantageous, particularly the very early retirment age, but current employees will not be affected.
The unions say they will carry on with the two-day, "rolling" strikes until the end of June, but the impetus for ongoing industrial action appears to be waning.
The more militant train drivers, however, are still staying off the job in high numbers, while rail traffic was disrupted Monday to a lesser degree, with only 40 to 60 percent of services running, depending on the lines.
Separately, Air France, which was also hit by another strike Monday and Tuesday, said it would be assuring around 75 percent of flights, with medium-haul services most affected by the stoppage and only 65 percent of these flights maintained Monday. The Air France unions involved are demanding a six percent pay hike, which management has refused.
The company has lost close to 250 million Euros (USD 307 million) due to the strike over the past several weeks. (end) jk.nam