Workers protest as France prepares power sell-off

PARIS June 29 - Several thousand power industry workers marched in Paris on Tuesday as the government called a vote in parliament on draft legislation that prepares the giant utility Electricite de France for partial privatisation.

Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin went on radio to say he would not withdraw the bill that authorises the sale of shares in EDF and sister company Gaz de France. He also vowed to stick to a controversial reform to streamline the state health system.

``I hear them, but I won't surrender,'' Raffarin told Europe 1 radio, adding that he would demand punishment for workers who interrupted public services. ``One cannot confront parliament with violence.''

Trade unions oppose the legislation on the grounds that it spells the death of a public service which they say should remain under state control. They also argue that privatisation could lead to higher bills for households.

Angry EDF workers have cut the power supply momentarily in recent weeks to places such as the Eiffel Tower and President Jacques Chirac's Elysee Palace, forcing officials at both premises to resort to generators to keep the lights going.

``We will fight until this bill is withdrawn,'' Marie-Claire Cailletaud, a representative of the CGT union, said during the march, attended by 5,000 to 6,000, according to organisers.

The Communist-linked CGT, the biggest union in the power utilities, said in a statement it would battle on regardless of how the vote goes in parliament.

Utility workers shut down power overnight in various parts of the Bordeaux region of southwestern France in more wildcat protests after disrupting commuter traffic in and around Paris on Monday with selective electricity cuts.

Union officials also said they had reduced energy output by around seven percent at EDF, the biggest supplier of power in Europe, with major exporting operations.

The National Assembly was due to vote later on Tuesday on the bill to change EDF and GDF into limited companies, the start of the privatisation process the trade unions oppose.

Raffarin stressed the state would retain 70 percent of EDF shares because the utility controlled France's extensive nuclear power network, which Paris expanded after the oil price hikes of the 1970s to assure the country's power supplies.

Protesting workers have also staged so-called ``Robin Hood operations'' to reconnect power to homes who have not paid bills.

Power cuts disrupted rail traffic into two Paris commuter stations on Monday, causing more than 200 trains carrying some 150,000 passengers into Gare Saint Lazare to be cancelled or delayed, French rail operator SNCF said.

Power cuts also caused some delays at Gare du Nord station.

The cuts appeared to be the work of individual protesters after the CGT union, which orchestrated more disruptive power outages hitting Saint Lazare and other stations earlier this month, said it was not behind them. - Reuters