FRANCE remained in the throes of transport disruptions and union go-slows in a continuation of what unions call an "open-ended strike" after the fourth national walkout in five weeks.
Some 1.2 million workers participated in marches across the county - the biggest number so far - in protest against the conservative Sarkozy government's austerity programme to rein in early retirement and pensions.
But French ports were said to be working, but still crippled by transport shutdowns and go-slows throughout the national supply chain.
Marseilles FOS was shutdown by strike action, reported London's Containerisation International as the protest against privatisation at Marseilles' oil terminals entered its second week, forcing the government to bring fuel overland to avoid national shortages.
(Source:www.schednet.com)