A massive general strike in France disrupted transportation, schools, and post offices Thursday. Unions and workers organized over 200 demonstrations throughout the country to express dissatisfaction with French President Nicolas Sarkozy's response to the global financial crisis and rising unemployment ? particularly initiatives that include cutbacks in public employment. Trains and subways were forced to limit services, flights were delayed, and around 37% of teachers stopped work. Unions and protesters are pushing for improved public services, job security in the public sector, and increased regulation of the banking industry.
See "Strikers Snarl Transport in France", David Jolly, The New York Times, January 28, 2009