Union

Laurent Berger to quit as leader of France’s biggest union

Marylise Léon will replace Mr Berger and becomes the second woman in a matter of months to head up a major French union

France’s CGT elects female leader, a first in union’s 128-year history

Sophie Binet became the surprise choice to lead one of France’s best-known unions

What to expect from tomorrow’s protests in France

We look ahead to the fourth day of mobilisation against pension reforms. The prime minister says a lot of opposition is due to people being unhappy in their work

Underpaid, undervalued, overworked: French judges are at crisis point

An American lawyer practising in France since 1973 says the mammoth workload means cases often have to be treated in just 10-15 minutes

French healthcare union calls for strike against mandatory vaccination

We are ‘not anti-vaxx but pro-free choice’, the union says. It comes as a survey of 1,000 people in France showed 40% support the anti-health pass protests

Covid France: Social distancing tags spark worker row

The boxes being discussed by hygiene company Essity emit a loud noise or vibration if staff get too close to each other

SNCF staff announce strike across France amid 20-hour delay

SNCF staff are to strike across France on Thursday, September 17 - amid delays of up to 20 hours on TGV services last night.

Binman suicide after sacked for drinking beer gift

Update: Statement issued by collection firm Coved on June 12

Safety rules proposed as France to reopen hair salons

As it is confirmed that most hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons will be allowed to reopen in France after confinement is lifted on May 11, a list of new rules has been proposed to keep staff and customers safe.

French national parks may start charging entry fees

Visitors to national parks in France may soon need to pay to enter, some specialists have said, in a “completely taboo” suggestion prompted by what some see as a lack of funding.

How to beat the unions

Four years ago I worked in Reims, a 20 minutes bus ride or an hour on foot from home.

Cost of France's six-week strike tops €1billion

Prime Minister's office at Matignon warns of 'significant financial consequences' of the dispute, which is now in its 43rd day

Where pension protest marches are taking place today

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe is due to outline further details of the reforms on Wednesday

Mass strike: 800,000-1.5m march as unions demand reply

More than 800,000 people are estimated to have taken part in yesterday’s strike (December 5), with protesters saying they are “ready to continue” and unions demanding a rapid government response.

Why the French must embrace pension reforms

Driverless cars are just one aspect of an AI-disrupted future that means that unions can no longer stand in the way of much-needed changes to France's over-complicated pension system, writes political commentator and historian Simon Heffer in his latest column for Connexion

Gilets jaunes anniversary sparks unrest in France

More than 28,000 people came out to march across France this weekend to mark the first anniversary of the gilets jaunes movement, with the event marred by violence and unrest in some areas.

Strike hits TGVs between Paris and western France

Customers urged to cancel trips if possible as walkout forces cancellation of 40% of services

French trains disrupted in surprise ‘social movement’

Train services across France are being disrupted today as SNCF staff take part in a surprise “social movement”, in protest over alleged safety concerns following an accident this week.

‘2,000 jobs at risk’ at private beaches

Strict interpretation of 2006 decree forcing private beaches to reduce in size

French flights may be affected by Ryanair pilot strike

UK-based pilots of the low-cost airline Ryanair have voted for strike action in August and September, with some flights to and from France at risk of being affected by delays or cancellations.

Controversy over automatic tills in French hypermarché

A French supermarket that is set to use only automatic cashier tills on Sunday afternoons is causing controversy, and been accused of ushering in a “dehumanised society”.

May 1: Origins of the springtime day for worker rights

France is marking the traditional Fête du Travail today (May 1), which has held a symbolic space in the calendar for centuries, and been an official working holiday since 1947.

Police prep Paris for May 1 amid gilets jaunes threat

An “exceptional number” of 7,400 police and gendarmerie have been stationed in Paris in anticipation of today’s May 1 protest marches, in context of the radicalised gilets jaunes and "black bloc" movement.

CGT strike hailed as first gilets jaunes-union move

Up to 300,000 people across France joined the CGT union general strike protest yesterday, according to union figures, marking the first significant collaboration between unions and gilets jaunes protesters.

CGT strike disrupts Paris attractions and schools

A general strike is taking place in Paris today (Tuesday February 5), affecting some tourist sites and local schools, after union CGT called for a march for buying power and a fairer taxation system.

French town preps for major protest as tensions mount

The mayor of Valence (Drôme) is preparing for up to 10,000 gilet jaunes protesters this weekend, after a visit by President Macron and the firing of a local Amazon worker heightened tensions in the area.

French truck driver strike on overtime pay cancelled

The planned strike by French road transport truck drivers has been cancelled, with unions dropping their calls to protest, after receiving written agreements between management and the government.

Élysée fears return of violence in Paris this weekend

This Saturday (December 8) could see the return of serious violence in Paris by those determined to “smash”, the Élysée has said, as public support for the genuine Gilets Jaunes protests remains high.

Police union's no-ticket day to support fuel protest

Members of one police union urged not to issue tickets on November 17, the day of national protests against rising fuel prices in France

French job agency panned for TV-type interview contest

French employment agency Pôle Emploi has been criticised after footage emerged of it asking job-seekers to take part in a reality TV-style contest instead of traditional job interviews.

Update: Air France proposes new pay agreement

Air France management this week presented a new proposal for a 4% pay rise for workers, demanding signatures from unions by the end of today (Friday October 19), after four months of apparent stalemate.

Unions fighting for rights must lead to change

When I moved to France, although I was drawn by the delights of French culture, food and wine, I was also propelled by then prime minister Margaret Thatcher’s actions; the swingeing cuts to public services, the poll tax, the destruction of the unions, the glorification of money as life’s be-all and end-all.

Train strike continues as French unions stand firm

Train strikes are set to continue into July and August, as unions stand firm and a strike timetable is running today (Friday July 6), ahead of the first weekend of the school summer holidays.

Train strikes in France: support dips below 10%

Even among drivers, backing for the two-in-five strikes is waning, figures reveal

All but one unions call off Air France strike notice

All but one workers’ union at Air France has lifted their notice to strike from June 23 to 26, pending the arrival of the company’s new CEO in July.

Union: France train strikes ‘to continue into July’

Train union CGT Cheminots has announced that its strike will continue into the month of July, even as the Senate recently voted to adopt the controversial railway reforms.

Rail strikes and other walkouts in France in June

List of dates of strikes across France in June

Public sector worker strike causes industry chaos

Schools, crèches, trains, flights, healthcare, the police, the postal service, electricity services and even the weather industry are being affected in the vast public sector strike including up to 5.7 million workers today (Tuesday May 22).

Rail strikes can still disrupt daily lives

Guy Groux is a political analyst at Sciences Po, Paris and he tells Connexion about the effect of last month’s strikes and demonstrations

Two-thirds back SNCF reforms: survey

Less than a month before the first of a planned 36 days of strikes across three months, an online poll delivers a blow for unions as it reveals widespread support for planned overhaul of debt-laden rail operator

Castorama admits ‘clumsy’ to ask French to train Poles

Home DIY and garden company Castorama has been forced to backtrack after admitting it was “clumsy” to ask soon-to-be-made-redundant French staff to train their Polish replacements.

Strike called on November 16

A day of strikes and protests is planned on Thursday November 16 by unions opposed to policies of President Macron that they believe will lead to more inequality and less job security.

Dip in support for labour reform protests

Interview with a striking lorry driver

A haulier on secondment to the CGT tells Connexion why lorry drivers are protesting against President Emmanuel Macron's employment reforms

Blockade protests enter a second day

Some panic-buying of fuel reported in northern and north-western France on Monday

Blockades kick off lorry driver protests

Unions say HGV drivers will blockade fuel depots in protest at labour reforms