Most of France's trade unions joined forces to organize strikes in dozens of cities on Tuesday to protest against unemployment, low wages, the high cost of living, and the government's plans to change the pension system.

Teachers were also protesting about job cuts and planned education reforms. Staff in ministries and courts walked out, and transport workers disrupted train and metro services. Street protests were expected later in the day.

Unions unimpressed by new minister

The strikes came as President Nicholas Sarkozy responded to an electoral disaster in regional polls which was partly blamed on the unpopularity of his social reform policy. He dismissed Xavier Darcos as Labor Minister, who was responsible for pension reform, and replaced him with the Budget Minister Eric Woerth.

But this did not impress the unions. Bernard Thibault, head of the CGT union, said Woerth's reputation was as the minister who had cut staffing levels in the public sector.

mll/AFP/dpa
Editor: Andreas Illmer