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| French rail workers go on strike as disputes over labour laws spread | French rail workers go on strike as disputes over labour laws spread |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The French government is trying to calm several different labour disputes as the country braces itself for a week of transport disruption with rail workers launching an open-ended strike 11 days before the Euro 2016 football tournament kicks off. | The French government is trying to calm several different labour disputes as the country braces itself for a week of transport disruption with rail workers launching an open-ended strike 11 days before the Euro 2016 football tournament kicks off. |
| A rolling national train strike called by the powerful CGT union and backed by some smaller unions, begins on Tuesday night and is expected to affect about half of national and regional train services. Workers who belong to the CGT will then strike on the Paris Métro and commuter train network on Thursday. Docks and port workers are also expected to strike, while aviation workers have called for stoppages over the weekend. | A rolling national train strike called by the powerful CGT union and backed by some smaller unions, begins on Tuesday night and is expected to affect about half of national and regional train services. Workers who belong to the CGT will then strike on the Paris Métro and commuter train network on Thursday. Docks and port workers are also expected to strike, while aviation workers have called for stoppages over the weekend. |
| Air France pilots have also voted to go on strike for at least six days in June, at a date not yet decided, in a separate dispute over productivity targets. | Air France pilots have also voted to go on strike for at least six days in June, at a date not yet decided, in a separate dispute over productivity targets. |
| Related: France’s chaos stems from its failure to adapt to globalisation | Natalie Nougayrède | Related: France’s chaos stems from its failure to adapt to globalisation | Natalie Nougayrède |
| The transport strikes come as six of France’s eight oil refineries are still halted or running at reduced capacity as part of the CGT’s ongoing protests against François Hollande’s attempt to change France’s rigid labour protections and make it easier to hire and fire personnel, cut red tape and change the working week. The CGT refuses to back down until Hollande withdraws the labour overhaul but the president said he would stand firm. Petrol supply across the country has improved and panic-buying lessened after police broke up fuel depot blockades by CGT strikers last week. | The transport strikes come as six of France’s eight oil refineries are still halted or running at reduced capacity as part of the CGT’s ongoing protests against François Hollande’s attempt to change France’s rigid labour protections and make it easier to hire and fire personnel, cut red tape and change the working week. The CGT refuses to back down until Hollande withdraws the labour overhaul but the president said he would stand firm. Petrol supply across the country has improved and panic-buying lessened after police broke up fuel depot blockades by CGT strikers last week. |
| Not all the various transport strikes this week are about the same issue. The CGT union has led protests against Hollande’s proposed labour changes. Other rail unions, as well as civil aviation unions, are protesting against changes to working patterns and practices in state transport. At French national rail, the large, reformist CFDT union said its members would not take part in the strike after the government signalled concessions over an internal reorganisation. | Not all the various transport strikes this week are about the same issue. The CGT union has led protests against Hollande’s proposed labour changes. Other rail unions, as well as civil aviation unions, are protesting against changes to working patterns and practices in state transport. At French national rail, the large, reformist CFDT union said its members would not take part in the strike after the government signalled concessions over an internal reorganisation. |
| In recent days, the Socialist government has used its cheque book to settle disputes to prevent a mass of disgruntled workers across a range of sectors joining in a national protest movement. Ministers have announced a pay rise for teachers, dropped planned cuts in research spending and swiftly pledged funds to end a dispute over performing artists’ unemployment insurance. | In recent days, the Socialist government has used its cheque book to settle disputes to prevent a mass of disgruntled workers across a range of sectors joining in a national protest movement. Ministers have announced a pay rise for teachers, dropped planned cuts in research spending and swiftly pledged funds to end a dispute over performing artists’ unemployment insurance. |
| Hollande vowed he would not back down on the overhaul, telling Sud Ouest newspaper the bill would not be withdrawn. He said: “The text assures the best performance for businesses and offers new rights to employees,” adding that it was necessary to see the changes through to the end. | Hollande vowed he would not back down on the overhaul, telling Sud Ouest newspaper the bill would not be withdrawn. He said: “The text assures the best performance for businesses and offers new rights to employees,” adding that it was necessary to see the changes through to the end. |
| Hollande said that despite the predicted transport chaos, the biggest threat to Euro 2016 “remains terrorism”. | Hollande said that despite the predicted transport chaos, the biggest threat to Euro 2016 “remains terrorism”. |
| The transport minister, Alain Vidalies, said he was seeking to settle the parallel dispute poisoning labour relations at the SNCF state railways about internal reorganisation of work practices. “We need to accelerate things,” he told France Inter radio. He urged management handling talks on the reorganisation to swiftly put final proposals to unions to help clear the air. | The transport minister, Alain Vidalies, said he was seeking to settle the parallel dispute poisoning labour relations at the SNCF state railways about internal reorganisation of work practices. “We need to accelerate things,” he told France Inter radio. He urged management handling talks on the reorganisation to swiftly put final proposals to unions to help clear the air. |
| Vidalies said although the train strike beginning on Tuesday night was serious, he felt it would’t be as widespread as predicted. The strike was expected to stop 40% of high-speed TGV trains and two-thirds of standard inter-city routes, with some disruption to Thalys services to Belgium and the Netherlands. Eurostar trains to London would not be affected. He suggested Thursday’s Métro and Paris commuter train strike would not cause major disruption. | Vidalies said although the train strike beginning on Tuesday night was serious, he felt it would’t be as widespread as predicted. The strike was expected to stop 40% of high-speed TGV trains and two-thirds of standard inter-city routes, with some disruption to Thalys services to Belgium and the Netherlands. Eurostar trains to London would not be affected. He suggested Thursday’s Métro and Paris commuter train strike would not cause major disruption. |
| The government is under pressure to avert any transport chaos when France hosts Euro 2016 from 10 June to 10 July, with about 2.5 million fans expected in stadiums, including 1.5 million foreign visitors. Paris tourism representatives have already expressed concern that images of strikes and demonstrators clashing with police broadcast around the world last week were putting off visitors to France. | The government is under pressure to avert any transport chaos when France hosts Euro 2016 from 10 June to 10 July, with about 2.5 million fans expected in stadiums, including 1.5 million foreign visitors. Paris tourism representatives have already expressed concern that images of strikes and demonstrators clashing with police broadcast around the world last week were putting off visitors to France. |
| The tourist board said “guerilla-type” scenes reinforced the feeling of fear and misunderstanding among potential visitors still anxious after November’s terrorist attacks that killed 130 people in Paris. | The tourist board said “guerilla-type” scenes reinforced the feeling of fear and misunderstanding among potential visitors still anxious after November’s terrorist attacks that killed 130 people in Paris. |
| Strikes in France in coming weeks: | |
| May 31: From 8pm, open-ended rail strike led by CGT union | |
| 2 June: CGT-union staff to begin open-ended strike on Paris metro and commuter trains | |
| 2 June: CGT port and dock workers to stage a 24-hour strike June 3, 4, 5: Civil aviation staff, including air-traffic controllers, are to make a decision on whether to strike for three days over labour conditions and work reorganisation | |
| June 10: SUD union workers to launch open-ended strike on Paris metro and commuter trains | |
| June 14: National protest day of street demonstrations against François Hollande’s labour reforms | |
| In June, date to be announced: Air France pilots have voted in principle for a lengthy strike in June, without yet specifying the date |