A full service was restored on the Paris Metro and most French trains were running today after transport workers ended a crippling strike so that talks on pension reform could run their course.
The nine-day walkout over President Nicolas Sarkozy's plan to end a system of special pension rights has been the biggest challenge yet of his presidency, testing his credibility in keeping an election promise of sweeping economic reforms.
Talks between employers, workers and the state over the specifics of the pension reform plan are due to last a month. Union leaders have said the negotiations must lead to concrete results and hardliners have warned strikes could resume.