The governments of France and Austria this year pushed through cuts in future pension obligations, overcoming stiff resistance from labor unions, and other countries are trying to do the same.
In particular, Democrats said any push by Mr. Bush to privatize Social Security would be met by stiff resistance from labor unions.
The measure, approved by the upper house of Parliament over stiff resistance from labor unions, extends the strictly regulated Saturday retail closing time to 8 p.m., from 4 p.m., but keeps in effect a retail ban on Sundays.
While the airline has a 70percentt share of the market in Canada, it has struggled with a heavy debt load that now totals $8.8 billion, high labor costs and stiff competition from low-cost airlines.
But the railroad's labor contracts provide stiff penalties for dropping routes, and dropping states from its itinerary would hurt its political support, especially in the Senate, where thinly populated states are overrepresented relative to their population.
Mr. Munger faces stiff opposition from Democratic legislators and labor unions who have funneled millions of dollars into Proposition 27.
But proposals to improve fuel economy have long faced stiff opposition from the domestic carmakers, labor unions and sympathetic lawmakers -- in part because S.U.V. sales, in particular, have become crucial to the Big Three's profitability.
The legislation is expected to be voted on in the committees next week, and is likely to face stiff opposition from numerous environmental and labor groups, among others.
The country faces stiff competition from China, shortages of skilled labor and the risk that the investment could create a green bubble that might pop.
But manufacturing is too expensive in southern Europe, Mr. Gaya said, in part because of stiff state requirements for benefits, taxes and labor protections.
