State presence at SNCF pension reforms talks depends on increase in traffic |
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Sun, 18 Nov 2007 19:49
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PARIS (Thomson Financial) - The presence of a state representative at initial SNCF negotiations on controversial pension reforms depends on 'a guaranteed level of (transport) service', France's state-owned railway operator SNCF said on Sunday.Strikes have disrupted rail, bus and metro traffic in France since Wednesday.Unions are protesting against president Nicolas Sarkozy's planned reforms that will end the pension terms enjoyed by 500,000 public workers, mainly in the railway and energy sectors, by bringing their contribution periods up to 40 years, in line with most of rest of the populationSNCF said a round table on special pensions enjoyed by SNCF workers is planned for Wednesday. The meeting 'could take place in the presence of state representatives if the level of service promised between now and Wednesday guarantees the right to transport.'Paris transport operator forecasts one metro in four, and one bus in two to be operational on Monday, with have ry few' suburban RER trains.Elsewhere SNCF said traffic on Monday will remain 'disrupted' with one in three high-speed TGV trains leaving from or arriving in Paris running.helen.beresford@thomson.comafp/hem/jagCOPYRIGHTCopyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.
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France hit by transport chaos as unions confront Sarkozy UPDATE 