French rail unions plan new strike

France faces a new rail strike next week which could slow commuter traffic to a crawl.

The 36-hour walkout, part of a protest against President Nicolas Sarkozy’s pension reform plans, will start at 8 pm on Tuesday, the SNCF rail operator said.

It was not immediately clear how many unions would take part, and how much the walkout would hamper traffic.

The strike is likely to come to a head on Wednesday, when staff from the Paris subway and bus operator also plan to stop work.

When the second such walkout this autumn ended last month, negotiations began between unions and the government over Mr Sarkozy’s plan to end special retirement privileges for a half-million train drivers and other state employees.

The government says the retirement reform is essential for modernising the economy and saving the pension system.

Under the proposed plan, rail workers and others will have to work for 40 years to qualify for full pensions, compared with 37.5 years now.