TERRA.WIRE
Postal workers in French city refuse to deliver mail because of biting cold
SAINT ETIENNE, France (AFP) Jan 27, 2005
Postal workers in the southeastern French city of Saint Etienne refused to do their rounds Thursday after they were refused extra pay to cope with the biting winter cold, employees and management said.

Around 70 of the workers did not deliver mail to homes and businesses, and only six of the 64 rounds were carried out, the state-run La Poste said, adding that it considered the stoppage "illegal".

The postmen and women had demanded more money and the replacement of scooters with cars so they could carry out their job safely and more comfortably after days of snowfall.