Public transport strike called for Friday

Commuters outside Paris may find it difficult to get to and from work on Friday after the six major transport unions called a one-day strike.

A total of 127 strike notices have been posted in towns and cities across the country - including Grenoble, Lyon, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Marseille and Lille - after a meeting on Monday ended without progress on talks with the Union des transports publics (UTP) over working conditions.

Unions are demanding an upgrade in pay scales and a dedicated career scheme for employees with more than 15 years' experience. They are also demanding the creation of 'a 13th month'.

Public transport in Paris should remain unaffected by the walkout, as negotiations with the RATP are handled separately - but up to 50,000 public transport workers are expected to heed the call.

Even after Friday's walkout, further strikes are feared. The unions and the UTP are not scheduled to meet again until February 14, 2018.