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Paris, France (AHN) – France is bracing for the fourth national strike since September against the pension reform bill as unions have blocked the highways, while police are deployed to stop strikers from cutting further fuel supplies.

Several government agencies, post offices, public transport and schools will participate in Tuesday’s strike.

The Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) said that half of Paris Orly airport flights and 30 percent of Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport flights had been cancelled due to Tuesday’s strikes. The flight disruptions are likely to last for 24 hours.

The rail workers also continued to disrupt rail travel on Monday. Ports and refineries are closed since October 12 national strike and nearly 15 percent of gas service stations are without gas. Despite the impasse, the government adamantly vowed not to bow down to unions’ demands and promised to keep gasoline supplies available. President Nicolas Sarkozy’s pension reform bill is due to be presented in Senate for vote on October 20.

“This reform is essential and France is committed to it,” Sarkozy said at a press conference in French city of Deauville. “It’s perfectly normal that it has generated worry and opposition, yet it’s also normal and natural that a democratic government in a parliamentary democracy ensures that motorists have access to gasoline,” the president added.

Meanwhile, Interior Ministry said that its crisis committee would be able to manage energy supplies as Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux as well as Prime Minister Francois Fillon did not rule out the use of police force to break unions’ barricades at fuel depots.

“There are stocks but we can’t get at them in some cases because of blockages at fuel depots,” Alexandre de Benoist, head of the Independent Fuel Importers Union, or UIP, said.

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