paris french public sector workers go strike tuesday president emmanuel macron plan cull job toughen pay condition force airlines cancel hundreds flight disrupt school activities civil servants teachers nurse march cities across france toulouse south strasbourg east day big rally paris first time decade unions represent million public workers rally behind protest call turnout important indicator public appetite protest macron social economic reform former investment banker say need unlock economic growth put public finance sustainable foot recent demonstrations number protesters appear low unions say 400,000 people turn across country interior ministry put figure 209,000. economy ministry say 14 percent state civil servants strike 9.5 percent local administration protest last month labor law reform lead private sector unions fail persuade macron change policy course french labor movement traditionally muscular public sector want make voice hear months months attack public sector workers say mylene jacquot head civil servants federation moderate cfdt france big trade union particular want force government make good promise regard spend power strike notice lodge school hospitals airports government ministries plan ax 120,000 job freeze pay reduce sick leave compensation civil aviation authority say 30 percent flight airports nationwide cancel disruption rail network ministry education say few one five teachers strike macron 39 come fire recent days political opponents unions treat workers contempt record describe group workers struggle factory kick bloody mess misstep come weeks call resist reform slackers crowd gather near paris place de la republique protesters hold aloft placard portraits macron prime minister finance minister read ones kick bloody mess minor scuffle break protesters security service eight people arrest police say statement unions divide macron reform far communist party-rooted cgt spearhead street demonstrations loosen employment laws lyon force ouvriere union boss jean-claude mailly say would support cgt call labor law decree scrap weeks negotiations government unions say would battle fight unite front issue ahead unemployment insurance pension reform matter public service mailly say strike french workers disrupt flight school