French Rail Strikes

The head of French railway operator SNCF said Monday that rolling strikes that began last week have cost the company around 100 million euros ($123 million) as staff carried out further stoppages.

Millions of French travellers suffered a second day of major disruption Wednesday as rail workers pressed on with rolling strikes that pose one of the toughest challenges yet to President Emmanuel Macron.

Striking railway workers were set to disrupt transport throughout France just 11 days before Euro 2016, as President Francois Hollande refused to back down over a labour dispute that has sparked months of protests.

French unions decided to extend into Sunday a crippling railway strike for a fifth day despite a renewed appeal for dialogue by Prime Minister Manuel Valls.

French trade unions extended a major train strike against proposed reforms to contain the rail sector's soaring debt until Friday evening, spelling a third day of misery for commuters.

After two days of air traffic controller strikes, French rail workers are now walking off the job to protest a reorganisation of the national rail and train companies.

Thousands of flights in and out of French airports were cancelled on Wednesday as a strike by air traffic controllers intensified just hours before a nationwide rail strike was due to start.

The head of French railway operator SNCF said Monday that rolling strikes that began last week have cost the company around 100 million euros ($123 million) as staff carried out further stoppages.

Millions of French travellers suffered a second day of major disruption Wednesday as rail workers pressed on with rolling strikes that pose one of the toughest challenges yet to President Emmanuel Macron.

Striking railway workers were set to disrupt transport throughout France just 11 days before Euro 2016, as President Francois Hollande refused to back down over a labour dispute that has sparked months of protests.

French unions decided to extend into Sunday a crippling railway strike for a fifth day despite a renewed appeal for dialogue by Prime Minister Manuel Valls.

French trade unions extended a major train strike against proposed reforms to contain the rail sector's soaring debt until Friday evening, spelling a third day of misery for commuters.

After two days of air traffic controller strikes, French rail workers are now walking off the job to protest a reorganisation of the national rail and train companies.

Thousands of flights in and out of French airports were cancelled on Wednesday as a strike by air traffic controllers intensified just hours before a nationwide rail strike was due to start.