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| Mont Saint-Michel workers on strike in transport row | Mont Saint-Michel workers on strike in transport row |
| (4 months later) | |
| As a French air traffic control strike on Tuesday caused widespread cancellations at airports from Paris to Nice, on the famous ramparts of a rocky mount off the northern coast another protest movement was gathering pace. | As a French air traffic control strike on Tuesday caused widespread cancellations at airports from Paris to Nice, on the famous ramparts of a rocky mount off the northern coast another protest movement was gathering pace. |
| Mont Saint-Michel, the picturesque islet topped with a Gothic-style Benedictine abbey that draws about three million visitors a year as France's biggest regional tourist attraction, is at the centre of political spats, wrangling and court battles over transport access. | Mont Saint-Michel, the picturesque islet topped with a Gothic-style Benedictine abbey that draws about three million visitors a year as France's biggest regional tourist attraction, is at the centre of political spats, wrangling and court battles over transport access. |
| Ever since an ambitious plan was unveiled to gradually remove the silt and sand between the mount and the French mainland in order to restore it to its full island glory, locals have been concerned about a money-spinning scheme to transport visitors to the world heritage site by shuttle bus. | Ever since an ambitious plan was unveiled to gradually remove the silt and sand between the mount and the French mainland in order to restore it to its full island glory, locals have been concerned about a money-spinning scheme to transport visitors to the world heritage site by shuttle bus. |
| The mayor, Eric Vannier, is appealing against what he termed an "unjust" court fine for alleged conflict of interest after choosing a shuttle route that brought tourists past his shops and restaurants. | The mayor, Eric Vannier, is appealing against what he termed an "unjust" court fine for alleged conflict of interest after choosing a shuttle route that brought tourists past his shops and restaurants. |
| Now the protest movement on the holy island – population 44, including 12 monks – has entered a new phase. For eight days, in an unprecedented strike, staff have downed tools at the ticket office and opened the abbey for free. | Now the protest movement on the holy island – population 44, including 12 monks – has entered a new phase. For eight days, in an unprecedented strike, staff have downed tools at the ticket office and opened the abbey for free. |
| Local workers, residents and visitors have criticised the rising car park costs, currently at €12 a day, and railed against the French company Veolia, a subsidiary of which runs the shuttle buses and parking. Banners proclaim "Veolia out" and "Give back Mont Saint-Michel to those who love it". Some complain of a form of "privatisation" of the atmospheric setting. A local collective has blocked the inland car park, raising the barriers for free. | Local workers, residents and visitors have criticised the rising car park costs, currently at €12 a day, and railed against the French company Veolia, a subsidiary of which runs the shuttle buses and parking. Banners proclaim "Veolia out" and "Give back Mont Saint-Michel to those who love it". Some complain of a form of "privatisation" of the atmospheric setting. A local collective has blocked the inland car park, raising the barriers for free. |
| Workers say that with their local bus scrapped, they now have to take tourist buses that drop them off too far away from the attraction. One tourist guide likened her day of walking back and forth and climbing 350 granite steps to a marathon. | Workers say that with their local bus scrapped, they now have to take tourist buses that drop them off too far away from the attraction. One tourist guide likened her day of walking back and forth and climbing 350 granite steps to a marathon. |
| Serge Poisson, a representative for the CGT trade union on the abbey's staff, said visitors were flocking to the site during the strike, exempt from the usual €9 charge. On Tuesday morning alone 2,700 tourists visited for free. | Serge Poisson, a representative for the CGT trade union on the abbey's staff, said visitors were flocking to the site during the strike, exempt from the usual €9 charge. On Tuesday morning alone 2,700 tourists visited for free. |
| The strikers are demanding urgent talks with the local body running the works. A demonstration is planned for Thursday. | The strikers are demanding urgent talks with the local body running the works. A demonstration is planned for Thursday. |
| "This is about access to Mont Saint Michel for all," Poisson told the Guardian. "Workers have lost all flexibility in getting to work, which is dragging out their working day. We just want talks but there seems to be stalemate, no one can understand whether it's financial interests at play, politics or personal interests. We don't have a choice, we have to stand up against it." | "This is about access to Mont Saint Michel for all," Poisson told the Guardian. "Workers have lost all flexibility in getting to work, which is dragging out their working day. We just want talks but there seems to be stalemate, no one can understand whether it's financial interests at play, politics or personal interests. We don't have a choice, we have to stand up against it." |
| Transdev, the Veolia subsidiary running the transport, has threatened to take legal action to clear access for its car park and buses. French media reported that visitor numbers had dropped since the shuttle bus system was introduced. | Transdev, the Veolia subsidiary running the transport, has threatened to take legal action to clear access for its car park and buses. French media reported that visitor numbers had dropped since the shuttle bus system was introduced. |
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