Another spring season, another bout of industrial action affecting travel in France, despite a supposed “truce” in the build-up to 2024’s summer OIympics in the country. This time it is once again French air traffic controllers who have announced a walkout on Thursday 25 April with just two days’ notice –meaning more aviation chaos is in the offing across the Gallic state, and affecting its neighbouring countries and others around the world.
While workers do not need to confirm their participation in the strike until two days before, at the time of writing the SNCTA Union says it’s confident up to 60% of workers will withdraw their labour for 24 hours. The UNSA-UTCAC union is also stopping work the same day.
A “black day” for travel
That level of walkout would likely affect up to 70% of flights from major airports, as well as flights that normally would enter French airspace even if not landing or taking off at a French airport. The degree of impact has led the country’s media to dub 25 April a “journée noir” or “black day” for travel, something the SNCTA union confirmed to AFP, saying “People should expect major disruption and long delays.”
Causing the dispute is France’s air navigation restructuring process, which has been in the pipeline for 15 months. While, air traffic control agencies are adjusting working patterns, labour unions are asking for better pay to the tune of a 5.04% increase per year in 2025, 2026 and 2027, plus a recruitment drive to reduce worker overload. In addition, air traffic controllers in France benefit from a “special qualification allowance” which the Unions want to see doubled.
Olympics could be threatened by strikes
With the world’s eyes on France as the Olympics and Paralympics approach, tram and bus workers with the CGT-RATP unions have also published a seven-month strike notice through to 9 September, threatening transport in the Parisian region during the event.
As a result, the French government is attempting to legislate to prevent disruption to major national events due to industrial action during set periods, as well as to increase the obligatory notice period for industrial action and ensure minimum service coverage. France’s upper house, the Senate, adopted the bill in early April 2024, but it still needs to make its way through the National Assembly before formally entering into legislation.
With the right to demonstrate in the streets and to withdraw their labour a sacred value among much of the French population, the attempt to outlaw such activity is highly likely to be the cause itself of further vehement protests.
