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Some people believe that in the case of a strike in France there is a provision for a "minimum service" in facilities such as trains and schools - that is only partially true and the general strike day on Thursday will be challenging for families and commuters.

It is well understood that important services people rely on in everyday life must offer at least a bare-bones service on strike days, but in practice no services in France are legally guaranteed to work in the case of a widely sponsored strike and the rules vary depending on the sector.

A 2008 law refers to a minimum service in schools, but this applies only to state primary schools. Approximately 60 percent of high school teachers are striking so many high schools will be closed. However, most are expected to remain open, but some lessons may be disrupted even where they do.

Parents should also be aware of potential disruptions to services such as school meals or extracurricular activities and homework sessions outside regular school hours in both primary and secondary schools.

The delivery of a minimum service in the primary sector often depends on how many teachers are protesting. If less than 25% of teachers strike, the school will stay open to allow children to come to school, even if they are unable to run all the regular classes.

If more than 25% are in strike then the municipality is supposed to arrange an alternative way for the children to be cared for during the hours of school.

In practice, some mayors claim this is complicated, particularly because teachers may announce their intention to strike only 48 hours before a strike and the municipalities have to send a list of people to the local educational authority who may be asked to supervise the children so they can be checked to see if they are acceptable.

For about 70% of primary school teachers are due to be on strike on Thursday, teaching unions say that 40% of primary schools will be shut down. Parents are advised to check the academies' websites, or to obtain information from the school or town hall.

On the railways with trains still operating but less often, a minimum service is not a strict legal requirement contrary to what many people believe. But something that is supposed to be arranged if there is enough non-striking workers to carry it out. This is not going to be the case and very few trains are expected to run, but EuroStar plans to run half of its services.

If you're wondering what all this means, it's because millions of mostly public sector workers are worried that they will lose out as a result of proposed changes to the French pension system.

Approximately 55% of teachers are on strike across the country, but this rises to 78% in Paris, meaning more than two-thirds if the capital's schools are completely closed on Thursday. Teachers worry that they might be among the big losers of the proposed pension reforms of President Macron, which are still being debated.

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