PHOTOS: Rail workers strike in Paris
June 17, 2014
Commuters arrive at the Gare de l'Est train station by one of a few trains available today in Paris Tuesday, June 17, 2014 as French rail workers are on strike to protest a reorganization of the national rail and train companies. Seven days into a nationwide train strike that has tangled traffic and stranded tourists, the leftist government is braking a long-held French taboo and is openly criticizing the striking unions. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) ( France Transport Strike )
Striking workers of the French state-run rail operator SNCF, backed by French unions CGT and Sud-Rail, hold a banner reading "part-time, unemployment, lack of job security, it will blow up" as they demonstrate on the railtracks at the Montparnasse train station in Paris, against reform plans proposed by the French government on June 17, 2014. France's longest rail strike in years rolled on for a second week as lawmakers were set to debate a contentious debt-cutting reform plan opposed by unions. (SAMBA/AFP/Getty Images)
French riot police clash with a striking train workers, during a protest over a bill to reform the state-run railway system in Paris, Tuesday, June 17, 2014. A weeklong strike by rail workers has caused one of the worst disruptions to the country’s rail network in years and is heating up as the reform bill goes to the lower house of Parliament for debate Tuesday. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) ( APTOPIX France Train Strike )
A man wearing a train driver's cap takes part in a demonstration by striking workers of the French state-run rail operator SNCF, backed by French unions CGT and Sud-Rail, against reform plans proposed by the French government on June 17, 2014 in Paris. France's longest rail strike in years rolled on for a second week as lawmakers were set to debate a contentious debt-cutting reform plan opposed by unions. (FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images)
An employee of French national railway SNCF walks on a platform at Saint-Charles railway station, in Marseille, southern France, Tuesday, June 17, 2014. A weeklong strike by rail workers has caused one of the worst disruptions to the country’s rail network in years _ and is heating up as the reform bill goes to the lower house of Parliament for debate Tuesday. The bill would unite the SNCF train operator with the RFF railway network, which would pave the way to opening up railways to competition. Workers fear the reform will mean job losses and security concerns. The government says the reform is needed to create a stronger structure for the railways, as France and other European countries gear up for full-scale railway liberalization in coming years. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) ( France Transport Strike )
Striking workers of the French state-run rail operator SNCF, backed by French unions CGT and Sud-Rail, light flares inside Montparnasse train station in Paris, as they demonstrate against reform plans proposed by the French government on June 17, 2014. France's longest rail strike in years rolled on for a second week as lawmakers were set to debate a contentious debt-cutting reform plan opposed by unions. (WILLIAM DELAPORTE/AFP/Getty Images)
Striking train workers make a chain as they face French riot police during a protest over a bill to reform the state-run railway system in Paris, Tuesday, June 17, 2014. A weeklong strike by rail workers has caused one of the worst disruptions to the country’s rail network in years and is heating up as the reform bill goes to the lower house of Parliament for debate Tuesday. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) ( France Train Strike )
Striking workers of the French state-run rail operator SNCF, backed by French unions CGT and Sud-Rail, stage a demonstration on the rail-tracks at the Montparnasse train station in Paris, against reform plans proposed by the French government on June 17, 2014. France's longest rail strike in years rolled on for a second week as lawmakers were set to debate a contentious debt-cutting reform plan opposed by unions. (WILLIAM DELAPORTE/AFP/Getty Images)
A man holds a CGT union flag as he takes part with other protestors in a demonstration called by workers of the French rail company SNCF on June 17, 2014 in front of Nantes train station, in Nantes, western France. France's longest rail strike in years rolled on for a second week on June 17 as lawmakers were set to debate a contentious debt-cutting reform plan opposed by unions. The crippling action, which comes as the tourist season enters a peak phase, has proved a key challenge for the embattled Socialist government, which has said it will not kowtow to the strikers. (JEAN-SEBASTIEN EVRARD/AFP/Getty Images)
French rail workers clash against municipal police during a demonstration in front of the City Hall of Lille, northern France, Tuesday, June 17, 2014. A weeklong strike by French rail workers is heating up as the draft law goes to the lower house of Parliament for debate Tuesday. The bill would unite the SNCF train operator with the RFF railway network, which would pave the way to opening up railways to competition. Workers fear the reform will mean job losses and security concerns. The government says the reform is needed to create a stronger structure for the railways, as France and other European countries gear up for full-scale railway liberalization in coming years. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) ( France Transport Strike )
French rail workers clash against municipal police during a demonstration in front of the City Hall of Lille, northern France, Tuesday, June 17, 2014. A weeklong strike by rail workers has caused one of the worst disruptions to the country’s rail network in years _ and is heating up as the reform bill goes to the lower house of Parliament for debate Tuesday. The bill would unite the SNCF train operator with the RFF railway network, which would pave the way to opening up railways to competition. Workers fear the reform will mean job losses and security concerns. The government says the reform is needed to create a stronger structure for the railways, as France and other European countries gear up for full-scale railway liberalization in coming years. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) ( France Transport Strike )
French rail workers demonstrate in front of the Lille train station, northern France, Tuesday, June 17, 2014. A weeklong strike by rail workers has caused one of the worst disruptions to the country’s rail network in years _ and is heating up as the reform bill goes to the lower house of Parliament for debate Tuesday. The bill would unite the SNCF train operator with the RFF railway network, which would pave the way to opening up railways to competition. Workers fear the reform will mean job losses and security concerns. The government says the reform is needed to create a stronger structure for the railways, as France and other European countries gear up for full-scale railway liberalization in coming years. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) ( France Transport Strike )
French riot police fire tear gas at striking train workers during a protest over a bill to reform the state-run railway system in Paris, Tuesday, June 17, 2014. A weeklong strike by rail workers has caused one of the worst disruptions to the country’s rail network in years and is heating up as the reform bill goes to the lower house of Parliament for debate Tuesday. France's Foreign ministry is in the background. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) ( France Train Strike )
A passenger waits a train at the Gare de L'Est train station in Paris Tuesday, June 17, 2014, as French rail workers are on strike to protest a reorganization of the national rail and train companies. Seven days into a nationwide train strike that has tangled traffic and stranded tourists, the leftist government is braking a long-held French taboo and is openly criticizing the striking unions. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) ( France Transport Strike )
Striking workers of the French state-run rail operator SNCF, backed by French unions CGT and Sud-Rail, light flares on the rail-tracks at the Montparnasse train station in Paris, as they demonstrate against reform plans proposed by the French government on June 17, 2014. France's longest rail strike in years rolled on for a second week as lawmakers were set to debate a contentious debt-cutting reform plan opposed by unions. (WILLIAM DELAPORTE/AFP/Getty Images)
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