Paris - About one-fourth of the 300,000 people working for the French Post Office were striking on Tuesday against the government's plan to turn it into a public corporation, French radio said, citing numbers provided by management.

Post Office director Jean-Paul Bailly has said that the post office needs some 3 billion euros (4.4 billion dollars) to modernize.

However, trade unions and a majority of the French public are firmly against his plan because they fear it will lead to a complete privatization of postal services.

Demonstrations against the plan have been scheduled to be held throughout the country later Tuesday. (dpa)