Travel chaos and more predicted during a French day of (in)action

Treat this post as a public service announcement if you like.

Because if you're thinking or planning to come to France on Thursday, maybe you shouldn't.

It won't actually be a holiday here, but you could be forgiven for thinking it will be, as plenty of people will be taking the day off work.

In case you haven't already guessed, it can only mean one thing - that a huge chunk of the French population is about to indulge itself in what could be seen as a national pastime - striking.

But setting all flippancy aside, it promises to be a mightily trying day for those who actually want to make their way into the office.

The strike has the official backing of the opposition Socialist party and many of the country's main trade unions throughout the public and private sectors.

It's a combination of protests over job losses, dissatisfaction with government reforms and privatization plans amongst others, and if the unions are to be believed will be "a huge success" as many people stop work and take to the streets.

So it's a heads up for anyone thinking about coming here and then trying to get around the country.

Maybe it would be a better idea to stay at home and not even think about traveling to or around France.

If however you do, here's what you have to look forward to.

First up getting in (or out) of France by 'plane shouldn't be too much of a problem if you happen to be scheduled to arrive on an Air France flight, as the company's management isn't expecting too many delays.

That at least is what they're promising at the moment.

Other airlines of course should be operating normally.

But once you arrive the problems will begin.

There will be a restricted service on the railways as almost all unions representing train drivers and SNCF employees are backing the strike.

In Paris you can expect long delays on the metro as once again five of the eight unions representing RATP have called for action, and the situation won't be any easier in most of the large metropolitan areas around the country.

For the French in general it's likely to be a day of protests and headaches.

Primary schools will be closed and once again local authorities will have problems providing the "minimum service" guaranteed by the government. The result will likely be that many parents will be forced to take a day off work to look after their children.

Public television and radio won't be spared either as a 24-hour strike begins at protest against government reforms. Magistrates will also be coming out in protest over judicial reforms,

At La Poste (the post office) similar action is expected against government privatization plans

Employees in the banking and financial services are also being urged by their unions to strike.

France Telecom will be effected too, as will hospitals. And so the list goes on EDF, GDF,and Suez, - the energy utilities, civil servants, car makers - just about every part of the public and private sector is expected to be touched in one way or another.

Even at the country's stock exchange - or la bourse - there have been calls from one union for action to protest job cuts.

And how do the French feel about all of this?

Well according to a poll published in the daily newspaper Le Parisien, they're overwhelmingly in favor with seven out of every 10 saying they "support" or "have sympathy" with the call for action.

As has been pointed out among the country's media, Thursday could prove to be rather a "baptism of fire" for the new minister of employment, Brice Hortefeux.

Who would have his job?

Bienvenue en France.