Black Thursday to come in France. Many unions have responded to the call for general mobilization against the pension reform, which promises to be important on Thursday January 19.
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According to information fromEuropean 1, territorial intelligence lists 221 actions throughout the territory with between 550,000 and 750,000 demonstrators throughout France. 50,000 and 80,000 people are expected in the streets of the capital on Thursday. The operation of air transport, the metro, trains and also schools will be disrupted.
• One in five flights canceled at Orly
The General Directorate of Civil Aviation asked airlines on Tuesday, January 17 to preventively cancel one in five flights at Orly airport on January 19, due to the air traffic controllers’ strike.
“Airlines must reduce by 20% their schedule of flights initially scheduled from 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.”, according to a notice for air missions. Flights to Overseas, many departing from Orly, are not affected by cancellations, in the name of territorial continuity.
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Flights to overseas, many departing from Orly, are not affected by cancellations, in the name of territorial continuity. The DGAC adds that“despite these preventive measures, disruptions and delays are nevertheless to be expected”.
• One out of three TGVs on the northern axis
According to information from RTL, one in three TGVs will run on the North axis, one in five on the East axis, one in four on the Atlantic axis and one in three on the South-East axis. Only one in three TER will be in circulation and no Intercités will be available, day or night.
At the SNCF, the message of the inter-union made up of the CGT, Unsa, SUD and the CFDT was clear: “Total opposition to raising the legal retirement age to 64 accompanied by an increase in the contribution period”. “Division and inaction have no place”insisted the four railway federations which call on the management of the SNCF not to “to be the relay of this counter-reform”.
• Three closed Paris metro lines
Thursday’s strike will be closely followed in Paris transport with three metro lines completely closed (8, 10, 11) and ten lines “partially exploited” or operating only during peak hours, the RATP announced on Tuesday.
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There will be only one train out of two during peak hours for the RER A and 1 train out of 4 during off-peak hours, with an end of service around 9 p.m. Only 1 out of 2 trains will run during peak hours on the southern part of the RER B operated by the RATP, and 2 out of 3 buses will run in Paris and in the inner suburbs.
• 70% of strikers in primary schools
The Snuipp-FSU, the leading primary union, predicted that 70% of primary school teachers would be on strike on Thursday. “This figure of 70% of strikers is not a surprise because we feel that the question of retirement is a major concern for teachers”Guislaine David, general secretary of Snuipp-FSU, the first primary school union, told AFP.
According to the trade unionist, “it’s about the same numbers as December 5, 2019”. During the last major mobilization against the pension reform more than three years ago, the world of education was strongly mobilized, with a rate of strikers reaching 70% in the primary according to the Snuipp-FSU, against 55% according to the ministry.
• Activity “almost at a standstill” in refineries
The scenario of a renewable movement is taking shape in the energy sector, where “electricity production cuts” are to be expected, without “go to blackout”warned the leader of the FNME-CGT Sébastien Menesplier, referring to possible “cuts” aimed at elected officials “who support the reform”.
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“We are working on well-targeted regional actions”confirms Franck Redondo, FO manager at the Gravelines nuclear power plant (North), predicting “a strong mobilization on Thursday” and already projecting “on other days of action”.
A ramp-up is also looming in refineries, with 24-hour notice on Thursday, then 48 hours next week and 72 hours in early February. At the TotalEnergies depot in Dunkirk “the employees are very reassured” against the reform, says CGT secretary Benjamin Salvino, who is counting on an activity almost at a standstill on Thursday, but without immediate consequence in service stations.
