Transports, schools: What to expect from tomorrow’s strike in France
In addition another larger movement is planned for November 10
We look at what disruption is expected to occur during the strike which has been called for tomorrow (October 27)
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Workers from several different sectors are expected to go on strike tomorrow (October 27), after an initial cross-sector day of action on October 18.
Read also: Most strikes in France are on a Tuesday or a Thursday. Here’s why
There have not yet been many declarations of participation, and SNCF workers have been called to “protest” but not explicitly to strike.
So far, no disruption is expected on public transport, as the SNCF – which is obliged to update its timetables 48 hours in advance – has not announced any changes to the usual schedule.
Primary school and nursery staff are also obliged to announce their intention to strike 48 hours in advance, and so parents should already know if their child’s class is affected.
Secondary school teachers do not have to indicate that they intend to strike in advance of the movement.
Demonstrations are expected to take place in Paris Montparnasse from 14:00, Rennes, Brest, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nancy, Reims, Lille and Caen.
The strike was called by the CGT union, which is demanding pay rises and better working conditions for public sector employees.
The union’s confederal secretary Céline Verzeletti said that she “does not want to let go” of the “dynamic” mobilisation seen on October 18 and in the refinery strikes which are still continuing at two TotalEnergies sites.
France’s interior ministry stated that 107,000 took part in demonstrations during the October 18 strike, but the CGT puts the figure at 300,000.
The CGT is also calling for a strike on November 10, and this movement is likely to have a greater following than tomorrow’s, with transport services set to be impacted as unions representing RATP workers in Paris make reference to a day of “0 métro, 0 RER”.
Nearly 15% of petrol stations still lack fuel
This comes as 14.5% of French petrol stations are still reporting shortages of at least one type of fuel, as strikes continue at the Feyzin refinery near Lyon and the Gonfreville refinery in Normandy.
The situation is, however, continuing to improve: on Monday 21% of petrol stations were experiencing shortages.
In 25 departments, the proportion of struggling petrol stations is above 20%, and the Paris region is particularly affected, with 62% of stations impacted in Hauts-de-Seine, 50% in the city centre, 46% in Val-de-Marne and 42% in Seine-Saint-Denis.
In the capital, a third of petrol stations have run completely dry. The department of Yonne is also seeing significant difficulties, with 34% of petrol stations without diesel or petrol.
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