International Business

French Service Workers Hold Protests: Strikes by the public workers, who are challenging Prime Minister Edouard Balladur over record unemployment and wage restraints, caused widespread disruption to rail, air and postal services. Train traffic was reduced by two-thirds in most of the country and a ground staff strike forced Air France to cancel half its medium-haul flights. Postal services were patchy. The widely observed strikes were called by major unions Force Ouvriere and communist-led General Labor Confederation to protest job cuts, privatization plans and an employment bill they say reduces worker rights.