The country faces serious railroad and air traffic disruption from strikes that began late Monday as a protest by trade unions against government plans to raise the retirement age. The strikes, most scheduled to last 24 hours, were organized to coincide with the presentation of a pension reform bill to Parliament on Tuesday. Public transportation and schools are expected to be among the hardest hit. President Nicolas Sarkozy has said he is ready to make some concessions, but will not retreat on the plan to raise the minimum retirement age to 62 from 60, and the age at which people can retire on full pension to 67 from 65.