Secondary school teachers on strike

A MINIMUM level of service is place in most French collèges and lycées this morning due to a nationwide strike by teachers.

Eight trade unions representing the profession are behind the industrial action, and at least 25 demonstrations are planned around the country later today.

They are protesting about plans to cut 16,000 jobs in September for budget reasons and the government's reform of the lycée system, which they say is being been poorly handled.

Today's teachers' walkout is the latest in a series of strikes this week that has seen magistrates, nurses, GPs, creche workers, bus drivers and binmen protest in the streets.

According to the Health Ministry, about a fifth of GPs' practices were closed yesterday as doctors staged a one-day strike over pay and funding.

The unrest comes days before the first round of the French regional elections. The first vote is on Sunday, with the second a week later on March 21.

Lorraine Swanson - Fotolia.com