Mr Laurent Fabius, the French Finance Minister, yesterday warned unions threatening strike action that they would not be allowed to "paralyse France's successful transition to the euro".
French banking unions have given notice of plans to strike on January 2nd in a dispute over wages, working practices and security measures.
The unions are confident that there is enough time to resolve their concerns without a strike, but the government has shown little patience. Last week it deployed riot police to remove stocks of 50 euro cent coins that staff had blockaded at a mint.
The Minister also voiced concern about the number of small companies that had not begun to prepare for the introduction of the euro.
According to polls by the government, 99 per cent of companies with fewer than 500 employees have begun preparations, but the figure is below 90 per cent for companies with fewer than 10 workers.
Only 49 per cent of such companies have worked out plans to charge in euros, while barely a third have asked the banks for working cash in the new currency.
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