France faces a week of disruptions caused by strikes in the transportation and public sectors as leading unions campaign against the government's labor reforms.
Air France passengers faced cancellations and delays for a third day on Sunday after the airline's pilots voted to pursue their four-day strike, due to end late Monday.
Air France said Sunday that about 65 percent to 70 percent of its long-haul flights and about half of its short and medium-haul flights would be in service Monday.
The strike, which began Friday, was called to protest proposals to raise the retirement age of flight crewmembers from 60 to 65. The strike caused hundreds of domestic and international flights to be cancelled and could cost Air France 100 million euros.
Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau pledged Friday that the government will guarantee pilots' right to retire at 60. But pilots still voted Sunday to continue their strike as planned.
Travel chaos could spread to the railways Tuesday when railway staff hold the first of two strikes to protest the proposed changing of working hours.
The last strike of France's state-owned railway company SNCF on Nov. 6 caused big disruptions.
There will also be a demonstration Thursday by teachers over budget cuts and working conditions. High school and university students will join the action.
Postal workers will strike Saturday to show opposition to the privatization of the Post Office.
"It is urgent to deal with the social situation," Bernard Thibault, the head of CGT, one of France's biggest unions, told France Info radio. He urged President Nicolas Sarkozy to pay the same attention to workers' demands as the financial crisis.
Source:Xinhua
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