France: Unionized railway workers plan to strike nationwide Jan. 10-12

Unionized rail personnel employed by OUIGO, a budget high-speed rail service provider, plan to strike across France Jan. 10-12. The purpose of the labor action is to denounce alleged poor service quality. Striking workers will launch the work stoppage by staging a protest at the OUIGO headquarters at Gare de Lyon in Paris 10:00-11:00 Jan. 10; nevertheless, company officials assert that services will operate at near-normal levels on Jan. 10. It remains unclear how many participants may attend the demonstration.

Unless averted, the strike will likely disrupt OUIGO rail services nationwide. Services that do operate will probably be more congested than usual. The Jan. 10 demonstration could prompt a heightened police presence at the Gare de Lyon; general rail disruptions are possible at the facility in late morning. Lingering disruptions may occur after the strike ends. Additional picket protests are possible at highspeed rail transport hubs nationwide; heightened security and localized transport disruptions are likely near all such gatherings.