PARIS, Jan 27 (Reuters) - France’s eight labour unions have called on public and private workers to go on strike on Thursday to demand that the government and company managers do more to protect jobs and salaries during the economic crisis.
Both the unions and the government expect massive turnout, with an opinion poll published by the newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche saying 69 percent of French people backed it.
Following are some facts about the planned strike.
WHAT IS AT STAKE FOR THE UNIONS?
Credibility. The unions have been seething since President Nicolas Sarkozy said last July that France had changed so rapidly under his stewardship that “these days, when there is a strike, nobody notices”. The unions want to prove him wrong.
WHAT IS AT STAKE FOR THE GOVERNMENT?
Momentum for its reform programme. After a first 18 months in power when no amount of protest could deter Sarkozy from pushing through his reform plans, he has recently shelved an unpopular shake-up of the high school system after street protests. If there is massive participation in the strike, that could further discourage Sarkozy from attempting tough reforms.
WHAT WILL BE THE IMPACT OF THE STRIKE?
It could potentially hobble France, with strikes expected to hit schools, hospitals, law courts, public transport, flights, postal services, France Telecom FTE.PA, energy providers EDF (EDF.PA) and GDF Suez GSZ.PA, shipyards, public television and radio stations.
WHAT DO THE UNIONS WANT?
The eight unions issued a joint document listing demands on both the government and company managers. Here are some of them:
- Any state aid to companies must be conditional on them supporting jobs and salaries.
- Companies that reduce working hours or ask staff to take leave as ways of coping with a slowdown in activity must negotiate such arrangements with the workers. Staff on a temporary break from production should be offered training.
- The government must immediately drop plans to cut 30,000 public sector jobs by not replacing some retiring employees.
- State stimulus measures must be directed at consumers, not just firms. They should revive the economy through consumption.
- The government must repeal legislation that has relaxed rules on the 35-hour working week.
- The government must withdraw its bill proposing to make it easier for shops to open on Sunday.
- The European Union must be at the forefront of efforts to curb financial speculation, get rid of tax havens and increase transparency on financial markets.
France's two largest trade unions have called for a general strike on Thursday.

The Confédération Française Démocratique du Travail (French Democratic Confederation of Labour) and the Confédération générale du travail (General Confederation of Labour), along with six other labour groups, have called upon French workers to stop work on January 29 and take to the streets to protest the handling of the economic downturn by President Nicolas Sarkozy.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007.

The strike call is aimed at both the private and the public sectors. It would affect public services like hospitals, schools, mail, Air France, rail company SNCF and national broadcasting, as well as private sectors such as banks, supermarkets and the stock exchange. A poll found 70% of the French public sympathise with or are in support of the action.

The unions fear job losses and wage cuts as France tips into recession following the credit crunch. They are against the President's plans to loosen restrictions on the length of the working week, which currently stands at a legal maximum of 35 hours, and on Sunday trading. The unions oppose allowing 30,000 public sector jobs to go by natural wastage. The European Union expects the unemployment rate in France to reach 10.6% next year.

In the National Assembly, the opposition Socialists have proposed a vote of no confidence in Sarkozy's right-of-centre government. The Assembly will debate the motion today, however Sarkozy's Union for a Popular Movement party has a majority in the Assembly so he is expected to win.

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Germany, the national railway network is expected to be disrupted after the two main rail unions, Transnet and the GDBA, called for strike action against Deutsche Bahn as part of a campaign for greater flexibility in worknig and a 10% pay increase. Deutsche Bahn has offered 1%.