Many programmes on the Radio France service were replaced by non-stop music after technicians walked out. Technicians at France 3 television returned to work on November 20 on their union's recommendation, but technicians at France 2 remained on strike. Polish teachers strike for 24 hours to demand more pay and funding for education More than 350,000 teachers in Poland took strike action on November 19 to demand a pay increase and more funding for the education system. The strike is in response to the government restructuring of Polish education, which begins this term. The legislation increased the years of compulsory education from eight to nine and converted some 5,000 technical schools into general schools.
Teachers are angry that they have to perform extra duties for the same pay.
Petrol pump assistants in Italy began the first day of a planned four-day strike on November 16. The workers are striking to protest against the deregulation of the energy sector by the government. The assistants fear large-scale job losses and a degradation of customer service as a result of the proposed changes. Government officials met with union leaders representing the assistants in the hours leading up to the strike in an attempt to avert it. The government proposes to close 5,400 petroleum outlets with the loss of thousands of jobs, leaving 20,000 outlets remaining.