Hundreds of thousands of French workers are expected to join the country’s second nationwide strike in two months.
Unions are protesting against President Nicolas Sarkozy’s economic policies. Unemployment has reached two million and is expected to rise further.
Demonstrations are planned in about 200 towns and cities. Schools are to close and public transport faces disruption.
Organisers hope the protest will be bigger than one in January, when more than a million people took part.
The unions are urging the government to do more to protect jobs and wages.
Buses and trains were disrupted on Thursday morning but not as badly as on previous strike days, the BBC’s Hugh Schofield in Paris reports.
The Metro rail system in Paris is running normally, he says.
However, the disruption is set to increase as schools and public buildings stay closed for the day.
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