French port workers start two-day strike: what impact on travellers?

A two-day strike by port workers in France is taking place today and Friday (January 30/31), which will halt economic activity at a number of ports, mostly in the north and west of France.

Ferry services may be affected although currently most routes between the UK and France are running as scheduled.

The main stevedore union and the dockworker wing of the wider CGT group called for the strike, which was originally set for early February before being moved last week.

Unions claim the government has not released information from a survey on asbestos levels in ports. 

They also cited a determination to continue fighting against the controversial 2023 pension reforms.

Further action is expected in February. Currently, ten four-hour walkouts are scheduled during the month, following three mini-walkouts of the same length this month. 

Read more: Strikes in France in January 2025 and how you may be impacted

Check ferry routes in advance 

If you are travelling via ferry over the next two days, you should check with your operator to see if your route has been affected.

Several ferries run by Brittany Ferries have been cancelled although it is not stated that this is due to strike action. 

Routes from DFDS between the UK and France are unaffected, the company states on its social media page. This is also the case for P&O Ferries. 

Irish Ferries between Dover and Calais are currently facing minimal delays.

Read more: Dozens of new flight and ferry routes for France in 2025

Supply chains ‘paralysed’ by strike

The main impact of the strike will be economic, with supply chains across France threatened. 

“These industrial actions, which follow on from numerous strikes in recent months, is causing legitimate exasperation in an economic climate that is already extremely tense for road haulage companies,” said the Fédération nationale des transports routiers (Road transport union). 

“The disruptions are paralysing the supply and distribution of goods and having disastrous consequences for road haulage companies,” 

Dockworker unions say discussions over an asbestos survey of 11 French ports thought to have high levels of the mineral have broken down, with the Transport Ministry allegedly closing doors on negotiations that began at the end of 2024. 

“The results of the asbestos analyses carried out in 2021 and 2022 in eleven ports have still not been published. We know that there is asbestos, both in the infrastructure and in the holds of ships,” said the union (quoted in French media Actu).

The unions will hold internal meetings on February 3 to discuss further action.