The World : 1-Day Strike Stalls France

Civil servants across France staged a one-day strike for higher pay, disrupting public services and presenting Premier Michel Rocard with the toughest challenge of his five months in office. In Paris, subway and bus service was cut by a half to two-thirds. Many commuters, fearing the worst, drove into the city, resulting in huge traffic jams. Air France canceled 31 flights, and rail service was curtailed. Mail went undelivered, teachers didn’t show up for classes in some parts of the country and many public offices were closed. Rocard says the government can’t meet the strikers’ demands for higher wages, including an increase in the national minimum wage from $780 to $972 a month.