France: Nationwide strike September 12 /update 2

Event

A nationwide strike called for by the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), one of France’s main labor unions, is taking place on Tuesday, September 12, to protest recent liberal labor reforms. Other major unions, including the FSU, Solidaires, and Unef, are also taking part.

Demonstrations will take place in France’s main cities - including Paris, Marseille, and Lyon - with at least 180,000 demonstrators expected to participate. In Paris, a march is scheduled to start at 14:00 (local time) at Bastille, ending at Place d’Italie. According to local authorities, 10,000 people are expected to attend.

Air traffic controllers are participating in the strike, resulting in flight delays and cancelations. EasyJet, Air France, and Ryanair have all announced disruptions, particularly affecting domestic flights, throughout the day. Ryanair has already confirmed at least 110 cancelations.

Public transportation, including train, metro, tram, and bus services, are experiencing some disruptions throughout the country. According to the SNCF, France’s national railway company, commuter trains are severely affected throughout the Paris region, with only half the trains connecting central Paris to Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) on the RER B line currently running.

Other regional rail networks are also experiencing delays and cancelations. However, high-speed trains (TGVs) are experiencing few delays or cancelations, and no disruptions have been reported on international Thalys and Eurostar trains. The Paris metro system is also unaffected.

Moreover, increased road congestion has been reported in the Paris area as well as around some of France’s main cities, including Lyon, Lille, Strasbourg, Clermont-Ferrand, and Rouen, due to road blockages and “go slow” protests.

Meanwhile, education, health, and energy sectors are also affected. Many schools have been closed throughout the country and unions representing hospital personnel as well as employees from petrol, gas, and electricity companies have called upon their workers to join the strike.

The CGT has announced another strike to take place on Thursday, September 21, just two days before a third industrial action called for by Jean-Luc Mélanchon - former presidential candidate and leader of the political party “La France Insoumise” - is set to take place.

Advice

Travelers are advised to confirm the status of their trains and/or flights and to allow for extra time to reach their destinations.