Holidaymakers in France warned ‘longer and stronger’ strikes over Christmas period could spur travel chaos
British holidaymakers jetting off to France this winter could face major transport disruptions from November 21, with threats of extended action into the Christmas period.
The coordinated action by all four of France’s major rail unions threatens to cause significant disruption during one of the busiest travel seasons.
Union leaders have warned that if their demands are not met, they will launch a “longer and stronger strike” from December 11, potentially affecting holiday travel plans for thousands.
The industrial action comes during an unusually quiet year for French strikes, marking a significant escalation in union activity.
The rail unions’ collective action centres on concerns about the increasing privatisation of France’s state rail company SNCF and associated networks.
The timing of the strike is strategic, targeting December’s peak railway travel period.
At stake are the SNCF’s operations, alongside the regional Transport Express Régional (TER), commuter rail network Transilien and Intercité services.
The SNCF has been state-owned since its establishment in the 1930s, but unions are protesting changes implemented in 2019 that opened the French rail network to competition.
The privatisation shift in France aligns with broader European Union initiatives aimed at enhancing rail networks and promoting train travel over cars and planes.
Spanish state-owned operator Renfe and partially Italian state-owned Trenitalia have already entered the French market, now running some Paris services. This opening of state railways to competition reflects a wider European trend.
The changes mark a significant departure from France’s traditional state-controlled rail system, which had operated without competition for nearly nine decades.
In a separate industrial action, France’s National Union of Airline Pilots (SNPL) has called a strike for November 14.
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The pilots are protesting against government plans to increase flight taxes by 300 per cent.
The one-day action is expected to affect Air France and other carriers employing pilots on French labour contracts.
The controversial “solidarity tax” currently charges passengers just under €3 (£2.49) for economy flights and €18 (£14.96) for first class.
Pilots’ unions claim the tax increase was proposed without proper consultation with the aviation industry. The SNPL has not ruled out extending the strike beyond the initial day of action.