WRAP Trains, metro and airport disrupted by strike

Описание: (4 Oct 2005)

1. Crowd of passengers walking along platform at St Lazare Station
2. Woman waiting, looking at electronic board
3. Electronic board announcing disruptions to services due to the strike
4. People walking, trying to catch the few trains running
5. SOUNDBITE: (French) Vox pop, Passenger:
"This is only the first one (strike) of the season so for the moment we are not too angry. It's all right. Maybe they have their reasons. We'll see."
6. People walking with sign above reading: 'Paris Saint-Lazare'
7. SOUNDBITE: (French) Vox pop, Passenger:
"They have their reasons but it's always the same. We are being taken hostage."
(Question: "But do you support their action?")
"Yes, a bit."
8. Sign reading: 'Welcome', pull out to railway workers looking at train timetables, giving information to passengers
9. SOUNDBITE: (French) Vox pop, Passenger:
(Question: "What do you think about this strike?")
"Well it's fine. Yes, we need it to defend our purchasing power."
(Question: "So you agree with them, even though it disrupts your day?")
"Yes, yes, no problem."
10. Exterior underground train station with bus passing
11. People waiting inside underground train station
12. Television screen inside underground train station announcing that due to the strike the traffic is disrupted
13. Empty underground train station
14. Wide of exterior of airport with planes in background
15. Air traffic control tower
16. Interior of airport
17. People waiting
18. Man waiting
19. People looking at monitors
20. Close up of monitors showing cancellations
21. Various of people waiting

STORYLINE:

Commuters and travellers in France faced unusually crowded highways, train stations and subway platforms on Tuesday as transport workers led a nationwide one-day strike.

The broad-based walkout, also by teachers, utility personnel and some private sector employees, aimed to express discontent with the centre-right government's economic and labour policies.

Several commuters at Paris' Saint-Lazare station on Tuesday morning said they supported the strike action.

"For the moment we are not too angry. It's all right. Maybe they have their reasons," said one traveller.

Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin was facing his first major labour unrest since taking office four months ago.

The strike came as members of parliament were returning from a two-and-a-half month vacation.

About two-thirds of Paris buses and Metro trains were expected to run on what the daily Le Parisien predicted would be a "Black Tuesday."

A large march was expected later in the day in the capital - one of dozens across the country.

Rail unions began the strike on Monday night.

One-in-three high-speed TGV trains were expected not to run on Tuesday, worsening to two-in-three on some regional routes.

Three unions representing air traffic controllers said they would join the strike, which was expected to cause flight delays from Monday night until Wednesday morning.

Some passengers turned up for flights on Tuesday morning to discover they had been cancelled.

Air France said its long-distance flights should be unaffected but delays and a few cancellations were possible on shorter routes.

A poll released on Tuesday showed most French people supported the strike.

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