French bill would weaken transit strikes | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

re: "PARIS — Public transit strikes, a fact of life in France, would no longer force trains and buses to a complete halt under a controversial bill presented to parliament Tuesday. /Labor Minister Xavier Bertrand said the bill would guarantee at least some service for the public. /Opposed by unions, the bill would require public transit providers and workers to continue minimum service if a strike occurred — a key campaign promise by conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy. /The government said as much as 70 percent of French people support the measure and denied suggestions from labor leaders that is meant to weaken unions. /The bill also would require individual workers to declare their intention of striking two days before a walkout began. Bertrand said that would allow commuters to plan ahead for strikes..."...