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Paris has travel chaos with subway workers strike

Passengers and tourists faced serious problems on Thursday as Paris Metro workers went on strike, with a third of lines completely closed and most others working only during peak hours.

“It’s very complicated, there’s no transportation,” said passenger Claude Miamo, a receptionist.

She waited a long time to find a train to get to Paris, only to find her metro line closed. “I’ll take an Uber, it’s an extra expense, but I have no choice, I have to go to work”.

The CGT union urged workers across the country to step down in a push for higher wages at a time of record inflation and in protest of planned pension reforms.

But the impact beyond the millions who take the Paris Metro every day could be quite limited. Other unions have not joined after similar calls in recent weeks failed to gain much traction.

There will be minor disruptions to wider rail traffic, and teachers may leave work in some schools.

But Murielle Guilbert, co-director of Solidaires, another union, told Reuters she did not join in calling for a national strike because she “did not feel there was potential for a massive mobilization over wages and preferred to focus on specific sectors”.

A week-long, industry-specific strike called by the CGT at TotalEnergies ended with a wage deal after triggering massive shortages at gas stations.

Thursday’s walkout comes in a tense political climate as the French government, which has no direct majority in parliament, has repeatedly used special constitutional powers to pass the 2023 draft budget in parliament without a vote.

Unions are also focused on President Emmanuel Macron’s ability to pass a pension reform, which most of them oppose and could spark mass protests.

“We understand the reasons for these actions and we prefer to support them. But they picked the wrong target,” said Jordan Jean-Pierre, 28, as he waited for his train.

“We are facing the same problems as they are,” he said.

Editing: Ingrid Melander and Bill Berkrot

Source: CNN Brasil

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