French unions call new strike over jobs law

By Dominique Rodriguez

PARIS (Reuters) - French unions on Wednesday called for a fresh one-day strike, stepping up pressure on Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin the day after millions marched to demand he abandon a contentious youth job contract.

Villepin again refused to withdraw the measure but said he was open to improving it and urged his critics to await a court ruling expected on Thursday. The Constitutional Council will either support the law, say it violates the constitution or express reservations about it.

Unions urged President Jacques Chirac in a letter to use his constitutional powers to send back to parliament for revision an equal opportunities law that could then be gutted of the CPE first job contract measures.

"The prime minister's rigidity only reinforces the union's determination to take further action," the UNSA union said in a statement announcing an April 4 national strike. <snip>

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