Travel plans to France may be off limits due to strikes coming in March
The latest action by unions against pension reforms in France has resulted in protests and strikes across the country on March 7, which could cause major travel setbacks. Earlier this month and the week before, a nationwide strike resulted in flight cancellations and train delays, preparing the way for the upcoming walkouts.
The French public transportation system will likely be a primary target of the March 7 strike, noted Travel Weekly, for which unions cited in the media have urged members to “prepare together to bring the economy to a halt.” Foreign Office officials have warned that additional strikes are possible.
These are the potential ways that the strikes will affect Travel, as highlighted by Timeout.
Striking employees at the national carrier Air France and the air traffic control agency could seriously impede inbound and outbound flights.
The strike may have an impact on Thalys and Eurostar routes as well as those run by national rail operator SNCF on the rails. Train cancellations and/or schedule changes are likely to affect all rail services. This was true during the previous strike of this nature that took place in France from February 15–17.
Plan accordingly if you’re traveling by car as well. Workers in the fuel industry and at oil refineries may also go on strike, which would result in long lines and delays at gas stations.
It is unclear how severely the strike will affect air, rail, and road travel, as well as public transit. However, it is advisable to keep track of your reservations and to be prepared for changes to your itinerary.
The French government has implemented a number of changes to pension benefits for government employees, prompting the strikes. The minimum retirement age will be increased from 62 to 64, and the required number of years of service will be increased.
To voice their opposition to the reforms, unions have called for strikes and rallies. The government, they say, is unreasonably going after working people during a period of climbing costs, and that the proposed laws it has passed are a social step backwards.
The secretary general of the civil servants’ union, UNSA, Luc Farre, called the reform “unfair and brutal.”
Evie Blanco is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience who was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Queens, New York. She is extremely well-versed in hip-hop music and culture and is always aware of any developments within it. Whether it’s the latest in pop culture, a fascinating foreign destination, a truly amazing new restaurant, or breaking news, she loves to write about it all.
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This story was originally published February 23, 2023 at 3:15 PM.