Byline: Michael Glackin Business News Editor
FRENCH banking unions are threatening to disrupt the launch of the Replica Miu Miu Handbags euro by calling a strike as bank clerks demand more cash for extra work caused by the changeover.
The industrial action, scheduled to commence on 2 January, the first full working day after the euro's launch on New Year's day, looks set to cause further chaos for the introduction of the single currency in France.
The strike, the latest in a series of euro-related headaches for French finance minister Laurent Fabius, is backed by the country's five main banking unions, representing staff at banks in the French Association of Banks (AFB), which covers all France's private sector banks.
The unions warned they were ready to "unleash a massive professional strike if management intransigence (over extra cash for the euro launch) persists".
Replica Breguet Watches Force Ouvriere union secretary general Pierre Gendre, whose members include more than 30 per cent of French bank workers, warned yesterday: "Be sure, we are heading for a strike from January 2."
Fabius, for whom the euro is fast becoming a millstone around his neck rather than a political milestone, seemed taken aback by the prospect of bank clerks inflicting further chaos on the launch in France.
Cartier Watches Watch Replica He said: "I think there will be talks between the banks and the unions. But the introduction of the euro is a historic act."
Fabius has already sent in riot police to the country's only production site for euro coins, in Pessac, near the south west city of Bordeaux, where workers have Gucci Replica Handbags been on strike for the past fortnight.
Daniel Roth Replica Watches While most of the production is completed, the hated CRS riot police were sent in two days ago to prevent picket lines halting delivery trucks taking coins to and from the mint.
At the same time, speculation is rife that deliveries of euros to retail stores in France could be delayed by two weeks or more from the target date of 1 December as some of the first batches produced were defective.
A finance ministry spokesperson declined to comment on the speculation but said: "We are going to do everything in our means to be on time."
Meanwhile, unions representing Paris postal workers have announced their intention to go strike on 14 December, when kits of euro coins are to be made available to the public two weeks ahead of the official launch.
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