(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) France's rail operator SNCF said Sunday a strike by railways' workers would continue for the 6th day tomorrow, the longest strike taking place in the European country since 2010.
SNCF decided to extend the strike despite Prime Minister Manuel Valls' repeated calls for dialogue, as well as failure of labor union and SNCF's administration, on one hand, and the Ministry of Transport, on the other, to reach an agreement regarding reduction of costs and restructuring.
The strike which started last Wednesday reduced by 30-50 percent the rail service on most intercity lines including Paris with the local, regional and suburban services being the worst hit.
President Francois Hollande intervened for the first time yesterday by calling the organizers of the strike to suspend it in order to create suitable conditions for dialogue, also because many students who use trains would be having their final exams tomorrow.
But organizers of the strike refused Hollande's calls and extended their strike, which would disrupt trips between Paris and other big cities.
The trade unions reject the proposed cuts and reforms for fear of losing job status and financial benefits.
Other trains travelling to European countries like Belgium, Britain, Germany and the Netherlands were not affected.
The SNCF's debts have hit USD 50 billion and this figure is expected to rise sharply if cost reductions are not imposed, official data show.
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