France: National strike October 19

Event

The General Confederation of Labor (CGT), one of France’s main labor unions, has called for a national strike to take place on Thursday, October 19, to oppose a set of labor laws recently introduced by the Macron government. Transportation disruptions are possible starting Wednesday, October 18, at 19:00 (local time), until Friday, October 20, at 08:00. Public buses, metros, and trains may be affected. More information regarding the impact of the strike should become available in the coming days.

Context

This strike will follow related industrial actions held on September 12 and September 21, as well as numerous protests that have gathered hundreds of thousands of people throughout France. During both strikes, 95 percent of trains continued to run, although intercity and commuter trains experienced considerable disruptions.

Advice

Travelers are advised to keep abreast of the situation, confirm their travel reservations and itineraries, and anticipate transportation disruptions.