French president calls for strike talks

PARIS (AP) — Transport workers shut down most trains Wednesday, testing the patience of Parisians forced to walk, bike or skate to work with a strike aimed at derailing President Nicolas Sarkozy’s plan to strip away labor protections he says hurt France’s competitiveness.

Faced with a new day of strikes today and the first major challenge to his crusade to modernize France via wide reforms, Sarkozy called on unions to enter talks.

“The president of the Republic has always considered that there is more to be gained for all parties in negotiation than in conflict,” presidential spokesman David Martinon said.