Firefighter strike: call for more protests after Lyon ring road and station blocked

Firefighters in Lyon blocked the city’s main ring road and rail station yesterday (October 8), as strike action against working conditions and remuneration continued.

Around 300 firefighters walked along the city’s ring road at the end of the morning, bringing traffic to a halt for around 15 minutes. 

This symbolic period of time is the average response rate for the city’s pompiers, which they say is coming under threat as conditions worsen.

The detachment of striking firefighters then blocked platforms and rail-lines at Lyon Part-Dieu station, also for a symbolic 15 minutes. 

Rail traffic through the station was interrupted, but returned to normal around 13:00. 

Firefighters have been on strike in the city since the beginning of October.

Why are firefighters striking?

Strike action is being held over staff shortages and salary cuts, as well as the end of a housing bonus some firefighters were eligible for.

“We've gone from 90,000 interventions a year to over 140,000 in ten years. However, the number of staff has not increased, it has [actually] decreased,” said union representative Rémy Chabbouh, to France3.

Firefighters in the city also went on strike during the Olympics, where some Olympic football games were held at Olympique Lyonnais’ stadium. 

Read more: Lyon firefighters strike over Olympic holiday restrictions

Further action is expected to be held on Thursday (October 10), which may include further disruption to travellers and drivers in the city. 

They plan to convene outside the Service Départemental et Métropolitain d'Incendie et de Secours (firefighter headquarters) in the city’s third arrondissement.

A contingent of striking firefighters will also meet with the prefecture of the Rhône department. 

Read more: Strikes in France in October 2024 and how you may be impacted