Strikes in France in December 2024 and how you may be impacted

Public hospital staff - November 4 - December 21 

A strike motion for public hospital workers opposed to the 2025 budget and working conditions will continue into December.

Hospital workers have to notify authorities in advance before going on strike but can potentially do so on any of the given days covered by the notice.

Minimum service rules mean hospitals will not be closed but non-urgent outpatient appointments may be impacted. 

Patients are recommended to confirm their appointment beforehand to check if it has been affected.

Railway workers - December 11 onwards 

A strike has been called by France’s four major railway unions over the break-up of the SNCF’s freight arm into multiple subsidiaries and the privatisation of regional railway routes. 

The strike is ‘unlimited’ with no fixed end date. Unions have said it will cover the Christmas travel period. 

Disruption to high-speed TGV and international routes as well as regional TER services is possible.

Rail timetables during strike action are usually made available 48 hours in advance. However, during an unlimited strike action may be more spontaneous so it is recommended to check timetables daily if you are set to travel during the period.

Read more: French rail workers to strike in December: Major disruption expected

Dockworkers - December 9 - 10 

The Fédération nationale des ports et docks (under the CGT union) has called a 48-hour strike in December, citing a pay dispute. 

The union rejects the 1.1% pay rise workers were offered as well as proposed retirement plans and has highlighted concerns over a failure to deal with asbestos issues in a number of ports. 

The strike should mainly affect the loading and unloading of goods with minimal disruption to passenger services expected.

However, if planning to travel via ferry confirm in advance if the route is to be affected. 

Civil servants - December 5, December 11 - 13

Two different strike motions have been filed for civil servant workers across France. 

The first, on December 5, concerns workers in the CGT, CFDT, UNSA, FSU, Solidaires, CFE-CGC, and FA-FP unions. It has been called over proposed changes to sick pay for public sector workers, including no sick pay for the first three days of an illness. 

Widespread disruption to public services is expected although this will differ between regions. 

A second strike between the dates of December 11 - 13 has been called by the Force Ouvrière union, also over changes to sick pay rules as well as a demand for increased financial and human resources in the public sector. 

Disruption is also expected on these days but is unlikely to be as significant as that on December 5. 

Read more: Visualise: Data on workers’ sick-leave days in France

Teachers may also strike in response to education sector cuts announced in the budget; however unions have not yet officially called for strike action. 

Pilots went on strike in November over planned airline tax increases, causing minimal disruption. Further strike action including more workers in the aviation sector was threatened but has not yet officially been declared.