French unions plan November strikes

PRIVILEGED STATUS THREATENED

The strikes have provided the first real challenge to Sarkozy's aim of overhauling the French economy and are reminiscent of the weeks of protest that sank a previous effort to reform pensions in 1995.

Sarkozy took his case to an SNCF depot last week and told defiant workers that "street blackmail will not work."

The so-called "special pension regimes" at the heart of the dispute offer workers in a range of sectors a privileged status that allows some to retire as early as 50.

The government has vowed to reform the system, which it says is unaffordable, and says all workers will have to pay pension contributions for 40 years to enjoy full pension rights, up from 37.5 years at present.

Unions say the proposed changes chip away at rights that protect those like railway workers who have physically demanding jobs that cannot be exercised past a certain age.

The government says such jobs are no longer as arduous as they were when the system was put in place after World War Two, and that the pension privileges are unfair to other workers.

Other workers are also unhappy. Cabin crew this week ended a five-day strike over pay and conditions at national airline Air France, and construction workers are set to strike on November 20 over pay and early retirement rights.

(For an analysis of the impact of the pension dispute on Sarkozy's reform plans, please double click on]

(Additional reporting by Jean-Baptiste Vey, Emile Picy)