Most French trains cancelled on 9th day of strike, workers occupy building

Striking French train workers have occupied a building in a protest against President Emmanuel Macron’s changes to the state-run rail company. At least 150 union activists mounted fire stairs to enter the freight offices of rail company SNCF in the Paris suburb of Clichy in Monday’s protest action, AP said. Riot police surrounded the site and blocked the road outside while protesters lit flares, hung huge banners from windows and sang protest songs. Many of the employees appeared to have left the building. Most trains in France were cancelled Monday, the ninth day of a nationwide strike over a plan to take away worker benefits to allow the company to open up to competition.