France, March 19 -- Trade unions have called on France's 5.7 million public sectors workers to walk out on Tuesday in a push for better pay and conditions, a month after the government announced some €10 billion in public spending cuts.

One in five of France's active population works in the public sector - they teach, provide healthcare, and ensure a host of administrative services that keep the country ticking over.

But their union reps insist wages are not keeping up with inflation and working conditions are deteriorating.

In a joint statement the unions said: "We urgently need to open negotiations to improve career prospects and take general measures to improve pay".

They called for "an immediate 10 percent increase in the va...