Frances rail unions have added to the governments woes by calling for rolling strike action from October 12, euronews reports.
Other national strikes are also planned for that day.
French workers are angry at President Nicolas Sarkozys plans to increase Frances retirement age from 60 to 62.
Rail unions had previously not taken part in industrial action against the move.
Bruno Duchemin, who represents the CFDT Union, said they could sit out no more:
Everybodys looking at us. That means that if we dont go for it, the others will say if the train workers arent out, we wont get anywhere.
We would carry a heavy responsibility if we didnt launch a rolling strike, he argued. All of France is looking at us. We always defend the rights of the French in the strongest manner.
Street protests are growing in France.
Unions estimate that three million people took part in the most recent one on Saturday.
President Sarkozy is holding firm though and refuses to back down on his proposed reforms.
(This item was distributed Oct. 7, 2010, by euronews.)
