Strikes over French labour reforms threaten Euro 2016

French strikers have said that they do not care about Euro 2016 as the tournament approaches.

As protests rage on against the controversial new labour reforms – which would make hiring and firing easier for employers – those on strike are told that the government will not back down as Prime Minister Manuel Valls insists the country is not in chaos.

The #frenchstrikes prove that suppressing change / reform does nothing but harm. Lesson to other nations atm as well https://t.co/PdjIsQf2sJ

— Annie Adragna (@adragnaaa) 28 mai 2016

Train workers at France’s state-owned railway SNCF have been on strike since Tuesday evening both over the labour reforms and issues regarding national rail reorganization relating to working hours and pay.

About half of the country’s train schedules were cancelled on Thursday in the disputes as the government seeks to resolve them.

The militant General Confederation of Labour (CGT) coalition of trade unions has said that strikers are prepared to continue.

Pilots and power plant staff are set to strike on 11 June, the day after the Euro’s start.