France in longest rail strike in years

French rail workers are entering the seventh day of being on strike in what is the longest period of workers' protests the country has seen in years.

Employees refuse to comply with reforms that would open France to competitors for the already indebted rail services.

Those most affected by the strike are the people who rely on trains to commute.

'I’ve now been waiting for six says. I’ve been given a warning…I told my boss it’s because of the strike, but he’s fed up now,' said one man.

For students this is a period filled with exams and not being able to rely on public transport means that every day is a race for them to succeed getting in time before the exam begins.

Manuel Valls, France's Prime Minister, calls the strike unneccessary and refuses to change his positions on the situation: 'There is no need for this strike, we have been having negotiations with the unions for 18 months. It’s not a responsible thing to do given the situation in the country particularly at a time of exams. It’s time for it to finish.'

Meanwhile, with the trains becoming unreliable, some people view the strike as a business opportunity and offer car-share rides to people in need.