French Workers Ready To Strike

From taxi drivers to computer analysts, French workers will take to the streets this week in what has almost become a winter tradition of protest and social action.

This time the hot issue is the implementation of a law to cut the working week from 39 hours to 35 - a project that has been heralded by the Socialist-led coalition government as a way to help cut the 11 percent unemployment rate.

The government hopes that once the law comes into force, companies will have to hire new employees to maintain productivity levels.

The law was passed in June 1998. A draft law on how exactly to implement that legislation is now moving through parliament.

The Communist-backed General Workers Confederation has asked employees to march on parliament today to draw attention to what workers want from the law.

On Wednesday, executives will take to the streets of Paris to seek changes to the draft law. Taxi drivers also will be demonstrating, calling for the implementation of the 35-hour week in their sector.

On Friday, computer analysts and workers from the Finance Ministry will be on the streets, also asking for serious talks on the shorter work week.