1.
LV ZOOM INTO GV DESERTED RAIL TRACKS.
0.08

2.
GV EXT... GARE DU NORD STATION.
0.11

3.
GV PAN... DESERTED ENTRANCE.
0.18

4.
LV DESERTED PLATFORMS.
0.23

5.
GV ARRIVAL A DEPARTURE BOARD.
0.26

6.
GV DESERTED STATION.
0.30

7.
SV STRANDED TRAVELLER WITH LUGGAGE.
0.33

8.
SV LUGGAGE.
0.37

9.
LV DESERTED PLATFORM.
0.38

10.
LV SOFBONNE.
0.46

11.
LV STREET SIGN "PLACE SORBONNE".
0.48

12.
GV PAN... SORBONNE TO MEETING.
0.52

13.
SV STUDENT.
0.54

14.
SV SPEAKER.
1.00

15.
SV PAN... TO GV... SPEAKER & STUDENTS.
1.05



Initials JM/V/MGT/LW



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE LATEST RAIL STRIKE TO HIT FRANCE BEGAN THIS EVENING (TUESDAY). PLANNED TO LAST FOR 34 HOURS THE STRIKE IS IN SUPPORT OF WAGE CLAIMS, WHICH THE GOVERNMENT REFUSE TO GRANT CURING THE PRESENT PERIOD OF ECONOMIC STABILIZATION. THE FRENCH ARMY IS STANDING BY READY TO MAN ESSENTIAL SUBURBAN SERVICES INTO THE CAPITAL TOMORROW.

REPORTS OF THE STRIKE'S EFFECTIVENESS ARE NOT YET CLEAR, BUT WHEN OUR CAMERAMEN VISITED THE GARE DU NORD AND GARE ST LAZARE THIS EVENING, HE SAW NO TRAINS, FOUND PLATFORMS DESERTED AND BAGGAGE PILING UP.

SOME 350,000 RAILWAY WORKERS ARE EXPECTED TO SUPPORT THE STRIKE, MAKING IT THE MOST COMPLETE SINCE THE 1953 GENERAL STRIKE. (LIMITED STRIKES HAVE ALSO BEEN CALLED FOR IN THE MINES AND THE CIVIL SERVICE.) BUT RAILWAY AUTHORITIES ARE HOPING THAT LONG DISTANCE TRAINS, INCLUDING THOSE USING CHANNEL PORTS, WILL NOT BE AFFECTED.

(RAILWAYMEN ARE NOT THE ONLY PARISIANS WITH A GRIEVANCE. STUDENTS AT THE SORBONNE, ON STRIKE FOR FIVE DAYS, IN SUPPORT OF THEIR CALL FOR MORE ACCOMMODATION AT THE UNIVERSITY, TODAY, HELD A MEETING IN THE PLACE SORBONNE, NEAR THE UNIVERSITY.)