Dockers' strike disrupts French ports
A strike by French dockers on Monday paralysed freight traffic at France's two busiest ports, Marseille and Le Havre, port authorities said.
The one-day nationwide strike was called by the CGT union to protest the government's port reforms and press demands for compensation for workers exposed to asbestos.
The work stoppage brought container and freight traffic to a halt at Le Havre and in Marseille but the oil terminals and ferry services were not affected, port officials said.
About 16 ships were prevented from docking at Fos-sur-Mer and Marseille, according to Marseille port officials.
The CGT union said all 1,800 freight workers in Le Havre -- France's largest container port -- and most of the 1,500 employees of the port authority had walked off the job.
Under a law adopted in July 2008, France's seven major ports are turning to private companies to run many of their services to make them more competitive.
The CGT has also called another nationwide strike for January 11.
Copyright 2010 AFP Global Edition
