PARIS — Rolling strikes on the French rail system continued Wednesday, even as the lower house of Parliament approved the bill which has triggered the work stoppages, Reuters reports.
Wednesday was the seventh day this month for stoppages by French rail carrier SNCF in a job action scheduled to continue intermittently through June. Management said just under 20 percent of workers did not appear for their shifts. About one in three high speed TGV trains still operated.
The four unions involved are protesting major changes supported by President Emmanuel Macron. Tuesday’s parliamentary vote advances changes which would allow private competition on SNCF’s high speed lines and reduce benefits for rail workers which include early retirement and extra vacation days.