Primary school teachers on strike
About a third of teachers are expected to take part in national strike, rising above 50% in certain departments
ALMOST two thirds of primary school teachers are out on strike today in certain departments as part of a nationwide day of action by civil servants.
Teachers' union SNUipp says 62% of staff are expected to walk out in the Alpes-Maritimes, and between 50% and 60% in the Lozère, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Creuse, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Tarn, Loire-Atlantique, Nièvre and Yvelines.
Two other main teaching unions, Sgen-CFDT and Unsa, are also supporting the day of strike action. Across the country, it is estimated that about a third of teachers will be absent today.
They are protesting against job cuts - between 40,000 and 50,000 since 2007, according to the unions - and a policy to only replace half of staff when they retire. CGT general secretary Jean-Marc Canon said the government was "refusing to negotiate".
The primary school strike is part of a bigger day of action by up to five million civil servants. Local councils, universities and hospitals could be affected, and more than 100 demonstrations are due to take place later today in towns and cities across France.
Since last year, education authorities have been required by law to provide a minimum level of service (service minimum d'accueil) in the event of a strike.
Staff must be on hand to look after primary school children, to allow their parents to still go to work.
