French teachers strike over working hours

PARIS, Dec 18 (Reuters) More than a quarter of France's secondary school teachers staged a one-day strike today to protest against government plans to scrap their entitlement to shorter working hours, the Education Ministry said.

Protesters also objected to being made to teach different subjects or work in different schools.

Under current rules, activities such as running a choir or supervising laboratory work earn teachers a reduction in their weekly quota of teaching hours, but the government is planning a decree which will cut these entitlements.

Unions say this will lead to 100,000 teachers working an extra 2 to 3 hours a week or losing 1,500 euros ( PARIS, Dec 18 (Reuters) More than a quarter of France's secondary school teachers staged a one-day strike today to protest against government plans to scrap their entitlement to shorter working hours, the Education Ministry said.

Protesters also objected to being made to teach different subjects or work in different schools.

Under current rules, activities such as running a choir or supervising laboratory work earn teachers a reduction in their weekly quota of teaching hours, but the government is planning a decree which will cut these entitlements.

Unions say this will lead to 100,000 teachers working an extra 2 to 3 hours a week or losing 1,500 euros ($2,000) a year.

The ministry said 39 percent of teachers in general and technological high schools went on strike, as did 24 percent of their colleagues in vocational high schools and nearly 36 percent of teachers in middle schools.

The SNES teachers' union said the strike was better supported. Based on data from 500 schools, it said 55 percent of middle school and 53 percent of high school teachers were on strike. French schools generally stay open on strike days unless all the staff stay at home.

REUTERS RL KP2218 ,000) a year.

The ministry said 39 percent of teachers in general and technological high schools went on strike, as did 24 percent of their colleagues in vocational high schools and nearly 36 percent of teachers in middle schools.

The SNES teachers' union said the strike was better supported. Based on data from 500 schools, it said 55 percent of middle school and 53 percent of high school teachers were on strike. French schools generally stay open on strike days unless all the staff stay at home.

REUTERS RL KP2218