Transport and energy workers have begun open ended strike action in protest of President Nicolas Sarkozy’s cost-cutting reforms

French transport and energy workers have begun open ended strike action in protest of President Nicolas Sarkozy’s cost-cutting reforms, according to reports.

Rail services and energy production have been severely disrupted.

Only 90 of the country's 700 high-speed TGV trains are running, traffic jams along the roads into Paris stretch for 300km and the city’s metro service is operating at 20% capacity, said the BBC on Wednesday.

The CGT French trade union said Sarkozy’s plans to overhaul pensions—which allow some public service employees to retire on a full pension as early as 50—justified the mobilization.

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