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Nationwide rail strike disrupts traffic across France

Xinhua, March 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

Traffic queues are longer in train stations across France on Wednesday after railway staff stopped working to protest poor wages and demand better conditions.

Starting on Tuesday evening, action of rail workers has disrupted traffic with only one train out of three running into the capital.

High-speed TGV services in the east of France were slashed to half, while one train in three TGV still linking the capital with the north, west and south of France, the state-owned railway company, SNCF said on its website.

Eurostar services between Paris, London and Brussels were also affected with 8 out of 10 train services were running according to the normal schedule.

According to the SNCF, one third of railway workers took part in the strike called by the four main unions representing France's rail workers which are the CFDT, CGT Sud and Unsa.

Unions are demanding recruitment for more employees, pay increases and improvement of work conditions.

The action, the most widespread railway movement since 2013 according to local medias, will end on Thursday morning.

The rail action is coupled with a nationwide protest, later in the day, over the government's proposal to reform the country's strictly codified labor code, adding more pressure on Francois Hollande. Endit