Major disruption in Sept 23 strike

TRAINS, planes, hospitals and schools will be hit by a nationwide day of strike action today, as workers protest against pension reforms.

Eight major trade unions have called on France’s 5.3 million civil servants to walk out. More than 230 demonstrations are planned in towns and cities around the country.

The unions hope to beat the turnout on September 7, when up to 2.7 million people took to the streets.

They are protesting against plans to raise the state pension age in France from 60 to 62 by 2018.

Schools

Teachers at every level of the education system will be taking part in the strike.

The biggest primary teachers’ union, SNUipp-FSU, says more than half of teachers will not be working. Most schools will offer a minimum level of service.

Trains

Three rail workers’ unions, the CGT, CFDT and Unsa, have called a 24-hour strike. Three others, Sud Rail, FO and the CFTC, want to extend the strike indefinitely.

TGV and TER: Half of trains running
Transilien: 40 per cent at peak times only
Corail: 25 per cent of day trains running, no Lunéa sleeper trains
Intercités: 30 per cent of services operating

Eurostar should be operating a normal service and Thalys will run nine out of 10 trains.

Metro and buses

There will be a normal service on lines 1, 14, 4, 6 and 11. Most of the other lines will run at about 50 per cent.

Three quarters of buses in the capital are running.

The worst of the RER lines will be line B, where only a third of trains will run. Passengers will also have to change trains at the Gare du Nord because there are no through trains.

RER A is running one train in two and there are 40 per cent of services running on lines C, D and E.

The strike will also affect local bus and tram services in towns and cities around France.

Flights

A number of local union branches representing air traffic controllers have been on strike since September 15 and the action has intensified today.

Half of flights serving Paris Orly airport are cancelled and 40 per cent at Charles de Gaulle. Regional airports are also affected.

The French civil aviation authority recommends that travellers check with their airline before heading out.

Ryanair's listed of cancelled flights
Easyjet flight info

Elsewhere

Courts, banks, museums, post offices and job centres will also be affected. Many hospitals will be operating with a skeleton staff.

Find out more
SNCF - 08 05 90 36 35
Mainline trains - infolignes.com
Live departure boards - gares-en-mouvement.com
Transilien - 0805 700 805
RATP - 0 800 15 11 11.

Photo:milphoto - Fotolia.com