Strike blocks national papers

SEVERAL national newspapers have been kept off kiosks due to a strike by a print and delivery group.

Le Figaro, La Tribune , L'Humanité and La Croix are the largest daily titles that workers at the NMPP print and distribution depot refused to deliver today.

Le Monde was kept out of kiosks yesterday.

The papers have made their editions available online in PDF format in response.

Staff are protesting against restructuring proposals to shut and relocate print and distribution centres which will see 10% of workers laid off.

Similar strikes occurred in mid-September, costing the company several million euros according to its directors.

The strike is producing discord within the union movement. The secretary of Filpac-CGT, Jean Gersin, which oversees the Syndicat du Livre group who are on strike, said it did not have their support.

"We are frankly against any non-printing. Those who want it will take responsibility," he said, adding that a negotiated solution should be found.