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France gets ready for nationwide strike

  • Story Highlights
  • Walkout to start from 8 p.m. Wednesday night until Friday at 8 a.m.
  • Air France says it will operate all of its long-haul flights, a portion of short flights
  • Hospital and postal workers, air traffic controllers among those walking off job
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PARIS, France (CNN) -- France geared up for transportation disruptions ahead of a nationwide labor strike dubbed "Black Thursday."

A 36-hour walkout in towns and cities across France is planned by public transportation workers and others anxious over job insecurity -- a discontent spurred by the world economic crisis.

Across the nation, students, teachers and government workers will hit the streets with subway, bus, rail and airline employees starting at 8 p.m. Wednesday night until Friday at 8 a.m.

State transit authorities are expecting disruptions on subway and buses, but international rail services won't be affected.

Air France said it will operate 100 percent of its long-haul flights but has suspended 30 percent of its short flights as a "precautionary measure."

The CGT, one of the leading French labor unions, said the largest will take place in Paris on Thursday afternoon.

Hospital and postal workers, bank staffers, air traffic controllers and auto workers will be among those walking off their jobs.

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