French train stations, air and sea ports herald miserable time for travelers

The latest wave of strikes against French pension reforms has kicked off today with quiet train stations, air and sea ports heralding a miserable time for travelers.

The strike comes the day after parliament passed legislation meaning workers can only draw full pensions if they work until 67.

Unions are hoping for a big response to the strike call, euronews says.

France's Senate passed the second of two key points of the bill late on Monday. The government wants the legislation passed by end-October and is betting on the strike action waning, especially among those who lose pay when they walk out.

But union leaders are vowing to keep up the pressure and hope the turnout on Tuesday -- the fourth pension protest in a month -- will exceed the 3 million people they said joined earlier marches. The government estimated turnout at the earlier marches at just under 1 million.

"The government is taking the risk of a radicalisation of the movement," said Francois Chereque, head of the powerful CFDT union. "There will be a very big turnout today.", Reuters reports.