SARKOZY HANGS TOUGH: TELLS UNIONS HE WON'T BE BLACKMAILED BY THE STREET

REUTERS:

French President Nicolas Sarkozy told railway workers yesterday he would not be blackmailed into withdrawing a reform of their generous pensions by strikes and street protests.

Sarkozy made his comments during an unscheduled visit to a depot of state train operator SNCF, just over a week after transport strikes caused widespread disruption in France.

The unions have threatened further strikes unless the government backs down over the reform and will meet again on Wednesday to decide what to do. If they do decide on further action it may coincide with a nationwide strike by civil servants on November 20, compounding the disruption.

"The street will not make us give in because we're in a democracy. Street blackmail will not work," Sarkozy told a group of workers, who warned him of new stoppages in the weeks ahead.

• CHIRAC CAVED INTO THESE LEFTIST THUGS.

• I THINK SARKOZY WON'T CAVE IN; HE WILL WIN. AND SO WILL FRANCE.