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Divided French unions meet ahead of major public strike

Unionists have been split over how to respond to President Emmanuel Macron's shake-up of France's famously inflexible labour code, with the hardline CGT organising mass protests but others showing willingness to compromise

France's divided trade unions met Monday, but failed to find a common position on President Emmanuel Macron's labour reforms, hours ahead of a major public sector strike. Unionists have been split over how to respond to Macron's shake-up of France's famously inflexible labour code, with the hardline CGT organising mass protests but others showing willingness to compromise. Officials from eight major unions including the CGT and CFDT met outside Paris in a bid to start thrashing out their differences. But they could not agree upon a "common vision" and plan to meet again October 24, Veronique Descacq of CFDT said after the gathering wrapped up. However, France's largest and most militant union -- CGT -- called for a day of mobilisation against Macron's labour reforms on October 19. The meeting comes as nine unions representing 5.4 million public workers call for a day of nationwide strikes and demonstrations Tuesday to show their "profound disagreement" with Macron's bid to transform the gargantuan public service. Civil servants are angered by Macron's plans to freeze their pay, while the wider public sector is set to see 120,000 jobs slashed by 2022. Tuesday will be the fourth time opponents of Macron's cost-cutting, pro-business agenda have taken to the streets since he came to power in May. For the first time since 2009, hospital unions have called on medical staff to walk off the job. Schools are also set to be affected and trains and flights are expected to be delayed. Thirty percent of flights in and out of Paris and other major cities have been cancelled.