Updated

A rail strike has disrupted France's train traffic for the sixth consecutive day as negotiations were due to take place between unions and management of the national railway company SNCF.

The strike has led to the cancellation of some 40 percent of the country's high-speed and regional trains.

In Paris, only half the suburban trains were running Monday. The capital's subway is not affected by the strike.

The Montparnasse train station in Paris, serving western France, was briefly blocked by dozens of protesters marching across the tracks.

Two major rail unions are protesting a plan to change working hours and rules about overtime and days off. They also reject a labor law aimed at loosening the country's labor rules.