Transit strikes snarl London, Paris

PARIS — Commuters in London and Paris scrambled for alternatives on Thursday — or just stayed home — as public transport workers went on strike for higher pay, the latest industrial action aimed at relief from soaring prices in Europe.

Spreading labor unrest is a growing problem for governments that are already spending billions trying to blunt the worst effects of rising prices, at least for the most vulnerable.

"I took my car, the train and now I have to cycle," said 36-year-old Nicco Hogg in London.

The action in the United Kingdom, by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport, and Unite unions, followed several walkouts this year amid a long-running dispute over job cuts, pensions and working conditions.

Some 100,000 UK civil servants on Thursday voted to strike, in the latest industrial action to hit a country hit by a cost-of-living crisis.

In France, the strike aims also to ratchet up pressure on President Emmanuel Macron before he brings a controversial pensions overhaul bill to parliament, which would require millions of people to work beyond the current retirement age of 62.

Five Paris Metro lines were completely shut down, with most others operating with only limited rush-hour services.

Many commuters appeared to heed the call by transit operator RATP to postpone trips or work from home, making transport less chaotic than many had feared, while the city's growing network of bike lanes saw a surge of cyclists.

Others decided to book a day off ahead of a long weekend thanks to Friday's French bank holiday.

But the two main suburban rail lines called RER A and B, which connect central Paris with Disneyland Paris and the Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports, saw more severe disruptions.

Trains on the metro lines still open were packed, with some running only every 15-20 minutes instead of the usual three-minute rhythm.

"It's a mess," said Sylvie, 46, after failing to board a metro on the No 7 line because of the crowds.

Authorities in London also said the Underground system was "severely disrupted", with limited or no services running, and advised people to avoid trying to use the network.

Reports said many buses were packed to capacity, while roads were more congested than usual.

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