When French trade unions declared a nationwide strike to protest against planned pension reforms, Nicolas, a 34-year-old maintenance technician with the Paris metro, went on strike for three straight weeks. Then he went back to work.
"It was a financial thing," he said as he headed home after working an early shift on the metro, explaining his return to the job. While on strike he forfeited €1,000 ($1,114) in salary, money he needs to support his 2½-year-old daughter.
He still contributes to his union's strike fund, and goes out on strike for a day or two at a time, but says that he cannot join the all-out, indefinite strike that union leaders have sought.