French rail workers vote to suspend strike

December 15, 1995
Web posted at: 3:25 p.m. EST (2015 GMT)

From Paris Bureau Chief Peter Humi

PARIS (CNN) -- Striking French rail workers voted Friday to return to work after a three-week work stoppage that crippled transport.

A majority of unionized railway workers voted to suspend the strike, apparently deciding that concessions by the government were adequate.

In the face of the strike, Prime Minister Alain Juppe backed away from a plan to reorganize the financially strapped state railways and agreed to keep generous public retirement plans in place.

Juppe did not relent on plans to trim Frances federal deficit by cutting back on social spending and instituting new taxes.

Also back in business, at least in part, was the Paris metro. Loud speaker announcements kept a limited but steady stream of passengers informed about train services.

"Now we can go on the subways and it's wonderful."

-- A commuter

"Now we can go on the subways and it's wonderful," said one happy commuter.

It's been so long, said another, "I'd forgotten what it was like."

Friday's service on just a few of Paris's 15 lines was free of charge. Some, however, brought along their bicycles, unsure just how long the temporary service would run.

Non-union staff, who had remained at their post throughout the strike, didn't want to discuss politics but were glad to see the public back.

It was like being in a fallout shelter down here, one worker said.

Elsewhere in France, postal workers were returning to work with only 2 percent remaining on strike. Paris' two main airports were also operating normally.

Despite signs the strike was ending, the unions said their day of action on Saturday would go ahead as planned, with large demonstrations expected in Paris and other major cities.

Getting around the city was still a slow process. There were just a few buses and computer trains in and around Paris and the roads remained heavily congested.

Next week, Juppe is expected to chair a meeting of employers and unions to discuss his proposed social security reforms, which sparked the strikes.

French rail workers vote to suspend strike

"Now we can go on the subways and it's wonderful."

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