Paris - Workers for the French telecommunications giant France Telecom went on strike Tuesday after a wave of suicides in which 24 company employees have taken their own lives over the past 18 months.

Labour unions charge that a restructuring of the company, which allegedly forced employees to accept new postings far from their homes, has led to inhumane and stressful work conditions. The company has cut some 22,000 jobs over the past few years.

Union officials claim that as many as 40 per cent of France Telecom employees are taking part in the job action. The company said the rate of participation was only 15 per cent.

To placate unions, who blamed his harsh cost-cutting measures for low morale, France Telecom's number two, Louis-Pierre Wenes, was fired and replaced by a former advisor to Finance Minister Christine Lagarde, Stephane Richard.

Richard vowed to create "a social renewal, which the company badly needs."(dpa)