"Last Updated: 18/10/2007 06:19
France hit by transport strike

France's transport workers have gone on strike today over plans to scrap their pension privileges.

In the first major challenge to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, unions called the 24-hour strike from late yesterday in an attempt to force concessions from the government, which plans to scrap privileges that allow a minority of public sector workers to retire earlier than their peers.

The SNCF state rail network said only a fraction of trains would run, while bus and tram services faced disruption in 27 major cities over the pensions row and a law forcing transport staff to provide a minimum service during strikes from January.

Gas and power utility staff, who would also be subject to the new pension rules, were due to walk off the job, although cuts in supplies were not expected. "