Workers throughout the public sector on Thursday walked off the job for the first time in Nicolas Sarkozy’s presidency to protest the conservative government’s plan to eliminate special retirement privileges that the private sector does not enjoy.

Labeled “Black Thursday,” the 24-hour strike halted most trains, subways and buses throughout the country, canceled classes in some schools and some theatrical performances. Only 46 of the country’s 700 high-speed trains were running. Many museums were closed. Workers at the state-owned electric and gas utility giants joined the walkout, leading to a reduction in electricity output.

In Paris, a pleasantly cool and cloudless fall day contributed to an atmosphere of calm and normalcy, as commuters used their cars, bicycles, rollerblades, legs, even motorcycle taxi services to get to work. The capital’s ew self-service bicycle rental system was sold out in many locations. 

The strike started on Wednesday evening. The current strikes were staged to force Mr Sarkozy to withdraw a plan to reform France’s special pension privileges enjoyed by 500,000 workers and 1.1 million retirees.