France: National public sector strike November 16 /update 2

Event

Major French unions will hold another national strike on Thursday, November 16, to denounce President Emmanuel Macron’s “liberal” reforms.

Some flight disruptions are anticipated as air traffic controllers will strike from 19:00 on November 15 until 06:00 on November 17 (local time). Moreover, unions at Air France have announced that their members will walk out from 01:00 to 23:59 on Thursday.

Unions representing rail workers will also participate in the strike from 19:00 on November 15 until 08:00 on November 17. According to the national rail company SNCF, no disruptions are anticipated on long-distance or high-speed trains. However, only 80 percent of regional and commuter trains will be running.

Context

Related strikes and protests took place on September 12, September 21, and October 19, to denounce President Macron’s labor reforms. However, a sharp decline in union member participation has become evident. During recent strikes, at least 95 percent of trains continued to run, although regional and commuter trains did experience considerable disruptions.

Advice

Travelers are advised to confirm flight reservations and allow for extra time to reach their destinations.