11-20-07, 10:20 am

Paris, Nov 20 (Prensa Latina) One of every two primary and secondary French schools will close on Tuesday because of a strike called by public professors, heating up the environment already caused by the interruption of transportation.

Gerard Aschieri, Secretary General of the United Union Federation (UUF) informed that all professorial groups would heed the call.

The strike was called by eight worker's organizations that group 5.2 million public officials, coming out in defense of purchasing power and against the elimination of jobs (22,900 posts) and announced reforms.

Teachers, for their part, added their rejection over a loss of 11,000 posts in National Education, announced by the Government for the next school year.

The strike will spread to hospital and mail workers as well as workers of the telecommunications company, France Telecom.

Also there will be interruptions at the airports as a result of a strike of airport controllers due to the recent proposals of Air France.

University students who have been protesting for 15 days in rejection of the Pecresse Law considering it a means to privatize the educational system, will join the call of the officials.

In the meantime, the transportation workers strike that has paralyzed France for six days because of reforms announced of special retirement regimes may be extended due to the lack of agreement between unions, companies and government.

From Prensa Latina