Truckers to join strikes sweeping France

Students protest in Marseille

PARIS -- France's main trucking union CFDT has called on its members to join nationwide strikes sweeping the nation to protest against President Nicolas Sarkozy's pension reforms. The government has endured several waves of strike actions since June against its plan to raise the retirement age.

French unions have called a strike for October 19 to add to protests and industrial action which have shut refineries, halted trains and brought tens of thousands of students onto the streets.

Historically, striking truck drivers have been key in the tradition of nation-wide general strikes in France.

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