France It would be less France if it were not for its constant strikes. In recent months, the protests have gone into the background. Until now, the unions They have waited patiently for the political unlocking, but after the presentation of the unpopular budgets By 2025, French streets begin to heat up.
The French Prime Minister, Michel Barnierhas already announced that the budget plan will focus mainly on the saving and everything indicates that it will be approved through article 49.3, a wild card that, given the lack of support in the Parliamentallows the Government approve laws and budgets without the need for a vote in the National Assembly.
Some budgets austeritythe loss of purchasing power of the French and the increase in prices for the inflation Strikes scheduled until the end of the year multiply. The unions have already launched a first wave of notice for the coming weeks.
Strikes until the end of the year
The automotive sector has been the first to start, after the announcement of the closure of several factories and the dismissal of more than 1,000 Michelin workers, one of the most consolidated French companies internationally. They will be followed by farmers French people who this Monday return to the streets to protest against the agreement Mercosurcoinciding with the beginning of the G20 in Brazil, where it is speculated that this free market agreement will end.
The farmers’ strike will extend to the entire national territory indefinitely until the Government offers, according to the unions, concrete measures and solutions. Against the austerity measures of the Executive of Emmanuel Macronthe public sector has also issued a strike notice for next November 18th until December 31st.
They are not the only ones. He railway sector will join this calendar of protests on November 20, a break that will cause delays and cancellations of dozens of trains. The strike is expected to resume indefinitely on December 11 if the government does not give in to the workers’ demands.
Privatization of the railway sector
The prospect of an eventful December tests the patience of the French government and citizens. Particularly bitter will be the transport strike, which will take place during the Christmasthe busiest period of the year.
Workers in the sector protest against the sale of Fret SNC, the state company railway, and against the opening to competition of regional lines. SNCF is scheduled to disappear on January 1 to be reborn in the form of two independent companies, open to the private equity: Hexafret for freight transport and Technis for locomotive maintenance. This is a plan negotiated by the French State with the European Commission to avoid a liquidation procedure for the company, which would force 5,000 employees to be laid off. The fear among workers is that this plan will lead the union to privatization gradual.
The transport sector is one of the sectors that carries out the most strikes in France, generating important economic losses and direct impacts for the population. Hence, 62% of citizens consider that these breaks should be prohibited during the Christmas holidays, according to a survey carried out by the CSA institute.
A law against strikes
Precisely, the senator Philippe Tabarot a few days ago asked the Minister of Transport to examine a bill of the Senate aimed at limiting the right to strike in the transport sector. The politician from the right-wing party Los Republicanos denounced that these protests are “traditional blackmail” during Christmas.
Last April, the Senate has already approved a bill that aims to “save certain days of the year from strikes” (especially during school holidays) and thus guarantee the functioning of public services. This project includes 30 days a year, with a maximum of 7 consecutive strike days, during which the public transport service will not be able to carry out protests. However, this text generated significant doubts among some senators for “violating the right to strike.” Hence, the National Assembly has not yet voted on the text.
This time it seems that the government has no intention of giving in to the public sector strikes and remains in its position of settling the accounts to reach the goal of saving 60 billion euros and cleaning up France’s economy.
