French public sector may strike during Paris Oympics, says union
PARIS (Reuters) - Public sector workers, including hospital staff, could strike during the Paris Olympics unless demands over pay and conditions are met, France's CGT union said on Thursday.

CGT head Sophie Binet told Franceinfo radio the union would submit a strike notice early next month.

"We want the government to take immediate measures to ensure the success of the Olympic Games towards which the CGT has been working for years. To achieve that our warnings must be heard," Binet said.

"We have been saying the same thing over for months and nobody cares. It's beginning to be tiring," she added

She cited the need to address and settle issues ranging from compensating workers fairly for overtime and giving up vacation plans to finding extra child care and paying for housing in the Paris region during the Games when accommodation costs are expected to be very high.

Starting in late July - the middle of the national holiday season - the Olympics are likely to increase strain on Paris' workforce, which has already been stretched by heightened security threats and chronic staffing shortages at hospitals and on the transport network.

France's interior minister has offered police officers bonuses of up to 1,900 euros ($2,069.86) to work during the games.

"Why can't other public sector workers have the same bonuses?...Is there a hierarchy between police and hospital workers?" Binet said.

"How do you think hospitals will operate during the Games? Millions of extra visitors are expected in Paris and there are no additional means allocated to Paris region hospitals," she added.

($1 = 0.9179 euros)

(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon, Jean Stephane Brosse; editing by Barbara Lewis)
PARIS (Reuters) -     Public sector workers, including hospital staff, could strike during the Paris Olympics unless demands over pay and conditions are met, France's CGT union said on Thursday.