Strikes in France, Germany, Finland

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7050475.stm

German train strike brings chaos

Regular train commuters have had to turn to their cars

Germany has seen more traffic chaos after a strike by train drivers on the country's local rail network.

The nine-hour walkout hit heavily-used commuter trains in eastern states and some of the country's largest cities including Munich and Frankfurt.

About 10 million people use trains in Germany each day - the highest level of rail usage in Europe.

Many major roads have been clogged as people turned to their cars - with few replacement buses available.

Members of the GDL are demanding a 31% pay increase and a separate contract from other rail workers - attracting the anger of many in Germany.

It has rejected a 4.5% pay increase offer from Deutsche Bahn, which two other unions - Transnet and GBDA - agreed to in July.

The strike ran from 2am to 11am, local time (0000BST to 0900 BST)

Some trains in Berlin and Hamburg did run, but on a sharply-reduced schedule.

Freight and long-distance routes were not hit after a German court ruled that the economic impact would be too severe.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/france/story/0,,2193733,00.html

Claire Truscott and agencies
Thursday October 18, 2007

Paris slowed to a snail's pace today as a transport strike across the French capital forced commuters to take to the streets.

Workers made their way to work by bicycles, car or on foot, while many opted out altogether and stayed at home.

While cars clogged Paris streets, highways around the capital were empty.

Three of Paris' 14 subway lines were shut and only one subway train in 10 was running, the RATP transport authority said.

Several commuter rail lines in Paris were closed, while platforms on lines still running were unusually empty.

The national rail network said it would be "nearly paralysed" by the action. Fewer than one in 12 high-speed TGV trains were operating, regional trains were virtually halted, and many suburban commuters were cut-off from neighbouring cities by public transport, it said.

Unions are bracing themselves for a long battle with new President Nicolas Sarkozy who has vowed to liberalise the national economy and cut workers' rights. The current row is over his plans to trim special pensions packages, as part of his pledge to rein in state costs.

The pensions were originally devised to enable those in physically demanding jobs, such as miners and train drivers, to retire early on generous terms.

Sarkozy has deemed the benefits too costly, outdated and unfair.

They are currently running deficits costing the taxpayer an estimated 5bn euros (£3.4bn) this year.

He has so far appeared unfazed and said on Tuesday night he would push through the reforms regardless of protests because "that's what I was elected for".

The French finance minister, Christine Lagarde, was unflinching in her plans. She said: "We are trying to change the psyche of the French people in relation to work".

There was support for the government on the streets of Paris today.

"Am I for it? Non! They infuriate us," Charlotte Ardant, a perfume industry worker, said of the unions.

She said she slept at a friend's house last night to be closer to her office.

Commuter Muriel Lepetit, who works for a French pen and razor company, was waiting at Gare St. Lazare station, hoping to catch one of the few running trains.

She said: "They're going too far. They are incredibly self-centered. I'm really disappointed. We're all worried about the financing of retirement".

The strikes began on Wednesday evening and three train federations are calling for a daily vote on extending the strikes.

Stephane Leblanc of the Sud-Rail union predicted "an historic mobilisation" during the strike action.

"Now is the time for the government to listen to the rail workers and withdraw its proposals," he said.

It's not the first time lengthy protests have crippled France. 12 years ago, the government was forced into backing down over similar pension reforms.

AK: Maybe we should wait for follow-up events and not publish this by 20071030 issue.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7046852.stm

Nearly 13,000 nurses across Finland are threatening to resign next month in a pay row, trade union officials say.

The Union of Health and Social Care Professionals (Tehy) is demanding a 24% wage increase for its members over 28 months, rejecting employers' 12% offer.

Tehy says half of its 124,000 staff are struggling to survive because of low pay, and many now want to work abroad.

If no compromise is found, the mass resignations will cripple Finland's healthcare system, the union warns.

Tehy's Jaana Reijonaho told the BBC News website that 12,800 members would quit on 19 November if their demand for higher wages was not met.

"Hospitals will be paralysed, especially big ones where many of our members are employed," Ms Reijonaho said.

Nurses in Finland's public sector say they are poorly paid and often have to cope with huge workloads.

A nurse's average salary is about 1,900 euros (£1,324), compared to 2,300 euros (£1,602) average pay for full-time workers across the country, Ms Reijonaho said.

"Half of our members have to survive on that money. It's not easy," she said.

"Thousands have moved to Sweden and especially Norway since the 1990s because salaries there are so much better," she added.

But employers say a 24% pay rise is unjustified, as it is about 15% above average wage growth.

The mass resignations will be the biggest industrial action in Finland's recent history if no compromise is found at ongoing talks between the two sides.

Tehy says it is "extremely sad that trained healthcare personnel have to defend their justified aims in such a drastic manner".

Some experts, however, say the 12,800 signatures collected by Tehy could not be accepted as resignation letters from a legal point of view.

The union admits that this is something of a grey area.

"The situation is not clear. A court case is possible," Ms Reijonaho said.