This article titled “What are the French strikes about and will they affect the Euro 2016?” was written by Kim Willsher, for The Guardian on Saturday 4th June 2016 07.00 UTCJohn Fawcett has joined the firm as Partner
What are the latest French strikes about?
French workers are angry about employment law reforms in the so-called El Khomri bill, named after the employment minister Myriam El Khomri. The Socialist government and employers say the legislation makes the country’s strict employment laws more flexible – including allowing companies to negotiate the 35-hour maximum working week and cap severance payments if they need to shed staff in times of financial difficulty. It is hoped this will encourage firms to take on more staff, helping to lower the country’s high unemployment rate, now hovering above 10%. Workers oppose the law, claiming it makes their situation more precarious and undermines hard-won privileges and rights. The law has sparked the industrial action, but unions are also airing other grievances about working conditions and salaries.
How are the strikes affecting France?
It is a lot of sound and fury, plus slogans, with noisy demonstrations and some ancillary hooliganism, but daily life goes on, if a little more slowly. Strikers have blocked fuel depots, ports and power plants, and 16 of France’s 19 nuclear power stations have been hit by walkouts, but some protests have petered out and so far there have been no power cuts. There were fears of petrol shortages, but the government authorised the use of the country’s petrol reserves, which can theoretically last for three months. Long queues at some fuel stations last week were mostly caused by French drivers panic-buying for fear of a shortage. Train journeys are taking longer, with some services cancelled, but the strikes have yet to really bite. This may be about to change, with more widespread action planned in the next few weeks.
Will they affect the Euro 2016 championships?
“We’re not trying to block the Euros. It’s not transport strikes that will stop people going to matches,” says Philippe Martinez, leader of the CGT union – the oldest and most powerful in France – and a Barcelona fan. But, he adds, “it’s all in the government’s hands”. At the same time, the CGT has threatened to paralyse Paris and other cities. The reality for football fans is likely to be more complicated. The CGT has called for a rolling strike, and the SUD, whose members work on the Paris transport system, has asked its workers to begin similar open-ended action on 10 June, the first day of Euro 2016. Most disruption is expected on 14 June, when the unions have called for a national day of industrial action. Most petrol depots have been unblocked, but they could be the focus of further protests. Not all unions support the campaign.
What should fans be aware of when they travel?
It is hard to say how many workers will heed the strike call, or how affected transport will be. The government is likely to make promises of concessions to avoid major disruption to this showcase sporting event, but there will inevitable delays to air, sea and rail travel. Fans travelling to matches are advised to allow more time. Since 2007, rail workers have been required to give 48 hours’ notice of their intention to go on strike and assure a minimum service, so there will be trains. Exactly how many is anyone’s guess.
What effect are the strikes having on François Hollande’s government?
Hollande had already hit a record low in popularity, so it can hardly get much worse. The prime minister, Manuel Valls, has said it is his “responsibility” to make sure the bill is enacted. The government used an emergency constitutional clause to push the bill through the lower house of parliament without a vote.
Is striking part of the French DNA?
French historian Stéphane Sirot said it was an element of the French character: “It’s part of the long French tradition of taking to the streets,” Sirot told the Local publication. “The protests can be violent, which only increases the media attention and fuels the reputation, but when you look at statistics of the number of days lost to strikes in different countries during the past 100 years, France is generally in the middle of the table.
In other countries, strikes often follow failed negotiations. In France they precede talks as a way of flexing union muscles. The French complain about disruption to their daily lives, but on the whole, they feel industrial action is for the greater good. The current round of strikes have elicited mixed feelings, with various polls showing that half the country supports the labour law being changed or withdrawn, but also roughly half support the industrial action.
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