French workers on strike

Around 200 rallies are held across the country and more than three million people participate. [Reuters]

Sarkozy has refused to contemplate union demands for pay hikes or better job protection. [Reuters]

Opinion polls indicate that the strike is supported by 75 per cent of voters. [AFP]

Strikers are calling for higher wages, better methods for protecting employment and higher taxes for high earners. [Reuters]

A similar day of action at the end of January involved an estimated 2.5 million people. [AFP]