Travellers left stranded as surprise strike closes ports and airports in Corsica
Flights and ferry services were brought to a halt - disruptions are continuing
Airports and ports, including in Bastia (above) have been blockaded by striking workers
Maleo Photography/Shutterstock
A surprise strike by workers in Corsica paralysed the island yesterday (October 3) afternoon, closing its four main airports and six main ports over disagreements on who will run the facilities from 2025 onwards.
Services to and from the island are still disrupted today, as blockades are ongoing. France's public service media France Info is offering live updates.
The spontaneous action left hundreds of travellers stranded overnight on the island (or at sea), causing the prefecture to open a local gymnasium in the city of Bastia as a temporary shelter.
Further strike action is possible in the coming weeks, although so far has not been confirmed.
The strike has largely been condemned as ‘illegal’ by French authorities, as unions had not filed a motion announcing the action.
Why was the strike called?
Dock and airport workers called the strikes over proposals by the government to backtrack on plans to create two ‘mixed syndicates’ covering the island’s docks and airports.
The plan was for these syndicates to grant concessions to the island’s chamber of commerce and industry (CCI) to run the facilities, keeping them in public control.
However, these plans represented a ‘legal risk’ said Alexandre Patrou, Secretary General for Corsican Affairs, as they bypassed tender procurement regulations.
President of the Corsican Executive Council Gilles Simeoni condemned the “decision that the State has just announced today, on the sly, without warning us and reneging on its commitment and its word.”
“If the state honours its commitments [the mixed syndicates] will entrust the operation of the ports and airports to the [public, via the CCI] by way of concession, and this solution guarantees efficiency and employment”, he said.
“If the state goes back on its word, we will not accept it,” he added.
