PARIS, Sept 8 (Reuters) - France's major trade unions are planning a sixth round of protests against the government's handling of the economic crisis, which could include strikes as well as marches and rallies.
The last big demonstrations in June saw a lower turnout than expected due to rifts between the unions, who disagreed over whether to march or to strike, and a boost in President Nicolas Sarkozy's popularity from European elections. Splits between the unions persist. Of the eight unions who have brought millions of protesters out into the streets since January, two did not support the latest plan for Oct. 7.
"It wasn't possible to bring everyone to the table, but we hope the other organisations will join us," Bernard Thibault, secretary-general of France's biggest trade union, CGT, told journalists on Tuesday. He said the precise action to be taken would be decided locally.
Unions are pressuring the government to raise the legal minimum wage and enhance job protection, do more to help poorer families and the unemployed, and ensure a fairer distribution of company profits.
Force Ouvriere, one of the unions that does not support the latest initiative, has questioned whether demonstrations are the best way to achieve those goals, arguing only a general strike can force the government and employers into action.
On May 1, hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets -- 1.2 million according to the CGT and 450,000 according to the Interior Ministry.
But in June, the turnout dwindled to 150,000 demonstrators according to the CGT, an eighth as many as hoped for. The Interior Ministry put the number at 71,000.
Unions also took action on Jan. 29, March 19, and May 26.
As unions debate mass demonstrations and nationwide strikes, workers acting independently have made headlines with more unusual protests: so-called "bossnappings" during which managers were locked up overnight, or threats to blow up their factories. (Reporting by Gerard Bon; writing by Sophie Hardach; editing by Andrew Roche)