LOC19:31
16:31 GMT
PARIS, Dec 5 (KUNA) -- Striking French unions announced on Thursday that they were extending their strike action until next Monday, and possibly beyond, media and union sources said.
Speaking on France Info TV, the communist CGT union said that Thursday's protest was very well followed by workers from the transport sector, particularly, but also by hospital, education and other public service employees.
A massive protest wound through central Paris Thursday afternoon and there were over 240 protest marches organised throughout France today.
Sporadic violence was reported in Bordeaux and Rennes and there were some concerns the Paris protest might be infiltrated by anarchists at the end of the march.
Early Thursday, rail and other public transport like the Paris Metro was practically at a standstill, with only 10 percent of services running on intercity TGV high-speed and local trains. Urban rail shuttles were also heavily affected as were buses in many cities.
In Paris, 11 of the city's 14 metro lines were closed and only two lines that are automated were running. Only one third of the city's 4,500 buses were running.
The Transport unions announced Thursday afternoon that the same strike action will take place until next Monday to try to force the government to back off on reforms of the retirement sector which could eventually lead to a longer working life for most employees.
This reform approach runs counter to the 42 "specialised regimes" for retirement which benefit from softer retirement conditions that allow employees to leave well before the 62 legal age limit.
For railway workers, the age to retire varies from 50 to 57, and employees in that sector are refusing modifications, even for new employees entering the transport workforce. (Pick up previous)
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