The staff at Paris’ Orly, Le Bourget and Roissy airports plan to strike on Tuesday, demanding payment of bonus for work during the Olympic Games, Le Parisien reports.
Earlier, major unions – the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), the National Union of Autonomous Trade Unions (UNSA), the French Democratic Confederation of Labour (CFDT) and Workers’ Force (FO) – called for a strike.
On Tuesday morning, the action will take place in front of Terminal 2E of Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport. As the experience of past similar protests shows, this could cause problems for traffic on the approaches to the air harbour.
Airport workers are demanding a one-off bonus for all employees who will work between 8 July and 15 September, an increase in staffing levels to reduce workload, early retirement to take account of the harsh working conditions and an increase in wages.
Rail workers are also calling for industrial action this Tuesday to press for an increase in bonuses given as compensation for extra work during the Paris Olympics.
Traffic will suffer “very serious disruption”, the SNCF said, and some lines will be suspended outside rush hours. Regional network operator Transilien Paris urged people to work from home or find alternative transport on Tuesday, which follows Monday’s public holiday.
Months-long protests are yielding results
Months before the Games, unions warned of strikes and threats of industrial action, including from waste pickers, public and health workers.
Rubbish collectors this month secured wage increases in addition to the Olympic bonus, averting days of strikes planned for the end of May and for the duration of the Games.
In April, a strike by French air traffic controllers forced airlines to cancel 75 per cent of flights at Paris Orly airport and 65 per cent at Paris-Roissy and Marseille.
