Premier, Unions Talk About 18-Day Strike

Pressed by an 18-day strike that has strangled the economy and frayed the nerves of commuters, Premier Alain Juppe met with union leaders Monday, looking for a way out of the impasse.

Labor bosses said there was no breakthrough.

Public-sector unions are demanding that Juppe withdraw his entire austerity plan, which is aimed at overhauling the heavily-indebted health and retirement system. He has refused.

“Mr. Juppe is dragging out (the talks) because he’s hoping the strike will wear down,” Marc Blondel, head of the Workers Force union, told the TF1 television network after the meeting.

Juppe was more optimistic, telling TF1: “The dialogue got off to a good start.”