French Leaders Voice Concern at Truckers Strike

PARIS —  France’s top political leaders weighed in on the nation’s worsening truckers strike Tuesday, seeking to prevent a repeat of a work stoppage last year that paralyzed the country for nearly two weeks.

With about 160 blockades in place by Tuesday evening, striking truckers were tying up commerce, choking off the fuel supply in many regions and blocking traffic through the Channel Tunnel on the second full day of the walkout.

But there was hope for negotiations, set to resume today between truckers--who are demanding pay raises and better working conditions--and trucking company owners.

The Union of Transport Federations, which represents 80% of the nation’s trucking companies, stayed away from earlier talks but decided to come to the table today.

In another positive development, authorities reported no major traffic jams Tuesday, with most roadblocks designed to filter private motorists through while halting commercial traffic.

But there was some violence: A car rammed a roadblock near the northern city of Lille, sending two strikers to the hospital with bone fractures.

Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, eager to end the first major labor crisis he’s faced since coming to power in June, told Parliament that he was introducing a law to strengthen truckers’ rights. He also accused trucking company owners of not respecting an agreement that ended the devastating walkout last year.

For his part, rightist President Jacques Chirac made it known that he was following the strike closely and expressed concern for freedom of movement on French roads--particularly that of truckers from other European countries.

A long strike could slow Christmas shipments and hurt economies struggling out of recession.