French SNCF railway workers to protest against

People mount bicycles after unchaining them from the railings of a Paris subway entrance in Paris during a nationwide transport strike October 18, 2007. French unions have called a 24-hour strike to protest against a reform of special pension schemes enjoyed by a minority of state sector workers

A demonstrator carries a placard during a protest march in Paris October 18, 2007. SNCF railway and public transport workers staged a nationwide strike over plans to scrap their pension privileges, the biggest test to date of President Nicolas Sarkozy's ability to push through reforms. The message on the banner reads: "Pension, Salary, Social welfare".


Commuters wait for a train at the Marseille railway station, hours before a strike by French SNCF railway workers, November 13, 2007.

Commuters arrive at the Gare du Nord railway station in Paris November 14, 2007 during a nationwide strike by French SNCF railway workers to protest against a pensions reform. Workers at rail operator SNCF went on strike on Tuesday evening and were joined on Wednesday by Paris transport workers and staff at power and gas utilities EDF and GDF -- the second time they have all downed tools in a month