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France and UK face strike action
PARIS, France -- The spectre of industrial action threatens to bring disruption to at least two major European countries. As the UK faces the prospect of yet another firefighters' strike, scheduled to begin on Wednesday, across the English Channel the French government faces serious challenges from unions, with teachers and state energy utility workers calling protests hot on the heels of recent action by lorry drivers and transport staff. France's teachers have called strikes and protests on December 8 in protest at cuts in school staff and funding. Other unions will hold protests on Thursday against plans to reform pensions at the state-owned Electricite de France and Gaz de France. Last week 90,000 public sector workers held nationwide protests in defence of the public service and against plans to sell off parts of Air France and the energy utilities. (Story) French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin's centre-right government hopes that there will be no repetition of a wave of unrest in 1995 that ultimately toppled former conservative prime minister Alain Juppe. The state utilities are dominated by the Communist CGT union. CGT sources told Reuters all unions at the utilities were set to join forces and reject the management's proposals. The sources said the CGT had called on union members to stage local protests throughout France on Thursday and that the turnout and any work stoppages would depend on the outcome of negotiations on Tuesday and Wednesday. Meanwhile, British Fire Brigade Union (FBU) leaders are set to meet on Monday to decide whether to call fresh strikes following the deepening rift with Prime Minister Tony Blair's government, which has dashed any hopes of a breakthrough in the long-running pay dispute. The 55-000-strong FBU is calling for a 40 percent increase and has already held two strikes -- one lasting 48 hours and a more recent walkout which lasted eight days and before it ended on Saturday. Another eight-day strike is due to begin on Wednesday unless a deal between the union and the employers is agreed. A further eight-day walkout is then further planned from December 16 to Christmas Eve. The government has made it clear it is prepared to stand firm for months rather than give in to the 40 percent pay demand.
During the strikes emergency fire cover has been provided by 19,000 troops. Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram said on Saturday: "We'll keep it up as long as necessary. "If it is the case that they (firefighters) want to continue their strikes then the Armed Forces will stand ready to provide emergency cover to protect the people of this country." FBU leader Andy Gilchrist issued a defiant challenge to Blair's government. (Story) Gilchrist said: "I'm quite prepared to work to replace New Labour with what I'm prepared to call Real Labour. "I have no nostalgic romanticism about old Labour but there are real Labour values built on real social progress, on real justice for working class people and indeed for fairness for all." He said the UK government had "ensured and provoked" the fire strike and was "prepared to play with people's lives."
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