France braces for week of strikes

PARIS -- French unions were preparing a week of post-election strikes, with employees from air traffic controllers to pediatricians pressing their demands.

On Monday, public transport workers from the Communist-backed CGT union were to walk off the job in cities such as Paris, Marseille and Montpellier to press demands on salaries and retirement. But the movement was expected to have little impact on traffic.

Some Air France personnel were also expected to strike.

Pediatricians were expected to walk off the job to press for higher fees -- $28.4 per consultation compared to $21.6 currently.

Starting Friday, emergency room doctors were expected to limit their work week to 48 hours, down from 70, to protest for less strenuous hours.