La Poste national strike on Sep 23

Unions have called for a national strike by post office workers to protest at government plans they say will lead to the privatisation of La Poste.

Six unions have said they will demonstrate against the government’s decision to change the status of La Poste from établissement public to société anonyme - a move seen as a preview to selling off parts of the group.

A spokesman for the unions said they were united against the project of La Poste and the government and added: “The strength of our action on September 23 will be an important stage in fighting this plan for privatisation – every striker will count.”

The unions have called on customers to sign petitions against the privatisation of La Poste and say a full public debate should be held on the issue.

The president of La Poste, Jean-Paul Bailly, said the company would become a société anonyme from January 2010 with the possibility of private investment a year later.

If the strike goes ahead it may affect the delivery of the October edition of The Connexion which prints on September 23.