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

Public hospital staff - November 4 - December 21 

Four major unions have filed a strike motion for public hospital workers in opposition to the 2025 budget and working conditions.

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

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 it has not been affected.

The same unions called for hospital workers to strike in October. 

France 3 TV and radio stations staff - November 4

Staff at public service regional news networks under the France 3 group will strike over potential contract changes.

Significant disruption is expected for the news network, particularly to local programmes. 

Workers from the network were on strike in May over a potential merger of France’s public service news networks.

Signallers on Brittany regional railways - November 4 

Signal workers on some rail routes in northern Brittany will strike on November 4, mostly affecting services between Rennes and Quimper. 

Some trains will not stopped at Vannes station.

Read more: Signal workers’ strike disrupts trains in southern Brittany

Municipal police officers - November 15 onwards 

A union representing municipal police officers in major French cities has filed an unlimited strike beginning on November 15 over changes to sick pay rules.

The changes would see sick pay for officers begin from the fourth day of illness (as is often the case in the public sector), and only cover 90% of wages. Current rules provide for sick pay from the first day of illness covering 100% of wages.

Minimum service rules will come into effect but many staff may still strike. 

Police officers in Lyon - up to November 14 

Police officers in Lyon are currently staging their own strike – separate from the above – over a pay dispute. 

Salary increases – proposed after the city lifted a cap on maximum wages for police officers – have only been offered to some staff, as opposed to all officers.

Union representatives say talks are encouraging over the matter, but the strike is still ongoing. 

Read more: Lyon police file strike motion after pay rises not given to all officers

French pilots - November 14 

The largest pilot's union in France is calling on its members to walk out on November 14 in protest of new airline taxes. 

The union says the sector was not consulted, and it will lead to job losses in the sector. It has warned further action will take place - potentially including other workers - in the sector in future over the tax hike. 

Read more: French pilots set to strike next week over plans to raise flight ticket taxes

Rail workers - November 21 

France's four main rail unions have called on workers to strike for one day on November 21, other dismantling of the state-run freight company, and incoming privatisation of regional routes. 

However, unions have said further strike action will be taken in November if the government does not reverse its decision. 

Read more: French rail strike call: wide-scale disruption expected later this month

Refuse workers in Marseille - ongoing from October 25 

Workers at a waste sorting facility in Marseille are on strike over working conditions and sackings they deem ‘brutal’. 

The CFDT union is backing the workers, and says that site manager Veolia is not respecting the French labour code. 

Rubbish may pile up to a lack of collection or sorting, particularly in the 3rd and 14th arrondissements of the city.