List of strike action expected in France in September 2026

Several strikes are set to impact France this September with the aviation sector and public services particularly affected. If further notices are raised we will add them to this list. 

A strike notice does not mean there will be a strike but it is a necessary step to hold protest action in France and is an indicator of intent for action.

We list the main strike notices issued to date this month below. 

Aviation sector – easyJet, French bee, Volotea 

Air passengers in France may face disruption and delays with employees from several companies issuing strike notices across September. 

Cabin crew at all six easyJet French bases – Paris Charles-de-Gaulle, Paris Orly, Nantes, Bordeaux, Nice, and Lyon – are covered by a rolling strike motion until September 2, but this may be extended as employees vote to prolong the motion today.

Planned action last weekend was called off.

Unions cite poor working conditions, including a lack of structure, many last-minute changes, and poor work-life balance for cabin crew. 

The strike has notably seen all three major unions for easyJet cabin crew (Personnel Navigant Commercial, PNC) support the action. 

A similar strike by cabin crew at low-cost long-haul airline French bee has been extended to September 6. 

Backed by the SNPNC-FO and CGT unions, similar issues over poor working conditions are cited, as well as low salaries.

In both cases, flights operated by the airlines may be delayed or cancelled, but crew must give 48 hours’ notice to their employer of their plans to walk out, so passengers should be informed in advance of changes or difficulties. 

Spanish low-cost airline Volotea is set to see a pilot strike this weekend (September 4 - 6), potentially affecting travellers leaving or arriving at several French airports.

The Unac, SPL, and SNPL unions back the strike, arguing that pilots are overworked and underpaid. 

Volotea was fined €247,450 by a Nantes court in 2022 for breaches of French flight-time rules affecting pilots and cabin crew.

Strike action may cause travel disruption this weekend to Volotea flights. Information will be available closer to the time. 

In any case of delay or disruption to flights, the matter is not considered an extraordinary  circumstance – as weather events, and airport worker strikes are – because it is the airline’s own staff who are impacting services. 

Passengers are therefore entitled to compensation on top of any reimbursements or refunds for delayed/cancelled flights. 

Check with your airline what exact rules are, and also see the policy of your travel insurance, if applicable. If issues are not resolved, you can contact France’s travel mediator (Médiateur du tourisme et du voyage). 

Firefighters – September 8 - October 20

Firefighters across French fire stations are covered by a strike notice for much of September, with nine unions and associations backing the action. 

Unions are calling for more funding, modernisation of the service, improved equipment, and a recruitment drive. 

Dates chosen are symbolic – September 8 is when a bill on modernising several state services will be presented and October 20 is the current date for the first vote for the 2027 budget.

Disruption is possible throughout the entire period.

Firefighters are covered by minimum service rules in France, and will continue to respond to emergencies but they may be slower to respond to non-urgent tasks and will limit their additional duties such as ceremonial activities, training, paperwork, etc. 

Several demonstrations are expected, including in Paris and local prefectures. 

Major demonstrations are expected on September 29, a day where many other public services are also being called on to strike. 

Public hospital staff - September 8, September 29

Staff across France’s public hospitals are covered by two strike notices - on September 8 and September 29. 

Unions backing the strike cite a crumbling public health infrastructure, with 60,000 nursing vacancies not being filled, low wages, and a lack of training. Groups also want salaries to be tied to inflation to ensure stable growth. 

The action is set to be mainly symbolic, with staff carrying out silent protests, wearing stickers, etc. 

There are currently no plans for major walkouts or the cancellation of non-essential treatments. 

However, there is a risk of some delays on the given days, so if you have an appointment scheduled it may be prudent to check in advance if it is impacted. 

Civil servants – September 29 

Civil servants across France are also covered by a strike motion on September 29, backed by the majority of France’s main union groups. 

The motion is wide-ranging and may potentially affect schools, nurseries, and all public services alongside office-based civil servants and the aforementioned disruptions to healthcare and firefighting services. 

Aims are wide-ranging between sectors but generally focus on wage security, better funding for key services, and improved infrastructure. 

Major demonstrations are also expected on the day, including in Paris. 

Exact disruption is not yet known, but expect disruption to schooling, local public services, and national state services. 

This can include closure of schools and local services (tax offices, advice centres, etc) as well as canteens, parks, sporting facilities, etc.

Avoid setting up any appointments with any public service for this day if possible, as it may be rescheduled.

Electrical workers - ongoing until December 31 

A strike motion covering EDF, Enedis, and RTE workers (the latter two companies oversee France’s electrical grid) is ongoing until December 31, 2026.

Backed by several unions, the strike is against plans to strip back the ‘tarif agent’, a bonus scheme for employees of the agencies. 

There are no plans for scheduled power cuts, however there may be a delay from the services in responding to callouts, on-site interventions, standard maintenance work, or customer service complaints. 

A major demonstration is planned on September 15, but further details are yet to be announced.

Public transport disruptions

Several public transport services will be disrupted across the month.

In Clermont-Ferrand the T2C transport authority has announced an ongoing strike from September 1, affecting tram routes and several bus lines. 

A strike is disrupting the Grand Reims Mobilités network on September 1. Expect both bus and tram lines to be impacted.

In Rouen, an ongoing strike by Transdev employees affiliated with the CGT union may disrupt services until January 2027. 

In all cases, check local websites for public transport operators before planning any travel.