Unions call for 5-day Air France strike

Unions have called for Air France flight personnel to stage a five-day strike starting Tuesday to protest a plan to push back their retirement age.

The eight unions threaten an even longer work stoppage if the plan is not withdrawn.

They say in a statement released Thursday that a planned government amendment to the draft law for financing the social security system in 2009 would push back the age of retirement for Air France flight staff from 55 to 65.