France hit by widespread anti labor reform protests

Unions and youth organizations staged new street protests and strikes on Thursday, urging officials to withdraw a proposed labor reform bill, despite the government's use of force to break up blockades and pass the contested reform without a vote.

Unions said 100,000 people took part in protests in Paris while police said the number was 19,000. Unions said 300,000 demonstrators walked out of offices, schools and universities throughout the country while police put the number at 153,000 compared.

A group of 200 masked youths destroyed bank windows and shop fronts in the French capital. They also clashed with police in Paris who responded by firing tear gas.

About 30 people have been arrested and nine were injured, according to local reports.

In the southwestern city of Bordeaux, violence erupted in an anti-reform rally during which a group of protestors targeted a police station, throwing objects and damaging a police car.

"The strike action aims at withdrawing the bill and discussing a real improvement in the situation of employees," said Philippe Martinez, head France's of biggest union CGT.

Earlier on Thursday, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said it was possible to make "changes and improvements" in the controversial labor code reform.

However, he said he remained committed to passing the reform which, according to him, was "useful" for workers as it offers them more rights as well as for unions and youths.

"I respect the CGT, but the CGT cannot block the country. It is not the CGT that imposes a law," he stressed.

With no end in sight to the showdown between French officials and unions, workers stopped work at oil refineries, nuclear power stations and state railways, joining a nationwide action, the eighth such action since March.

A strike was staged in France's 19 nuclear power plants on Thursday, causing a cut in nuclear power by at least 4 gigawatts (GW), or the equivalent of about 6 percent of the country's total production capacity, according to grid operator RTE.

Stoppages at five refineries and pickets at petrol depots prompted fuel shortages across the country, leaving up to 30 percent of the 12,500 pump stations dry. As a result, the government said it would use strategic oil reserves for two days.

Train services were disrupted through the country while at Paris Orly airport, 15 percent of flights were cancelled, aviation authorities DGCA said.

Vowing to escalate anti-reform action till the law is withdrawn, unions planned a fresh day of protests on June 14, few days before the Euro soccer tournament.

Under high pressure to reduce unemployment, French President Francois Hollande proposed to reform the strictly codified labor rules by offering more flexibility to enterprises to hire.

Proposed reform also aims to reduce overtime pay and economic redundancies and opens to negotiation working hours and holidays.

However, critics say such reform would create more low-paid jobs and further weaken pay.

The final vote on the labor reform is scheduled for July. Enditem