Update: Transport services disrupted

TRAINS and bus services faced disruption across France today as two leading unions, CGT and Force Ouvrière led a protest against the planned new deal on employment laws.

The disruption will continue until 8.00 on March 6 with local TER services hit, with just the statutory minimum service running in many regions. In Paris, the RATP says that services are running “quasi-normal” with three RER lines affected, the RER B, RER D and RER E

However, the situation varies markedly across the country. That means one in three TER trains expected to run in Paca, for example, but in Alsace the problems are expected to be confined to the Mulhouse-Thann-Kruth; Colmar-Metzeral and Strasbourg-Lauterbourg routes. In all, around two out of three TERs are expected to run.

TGVs are largely unaffected, but disruption and cancellations were happening on the Paris-Brussels service and Paris-Nice, Paris-Tarbes and Paris-Quimper-Brest services. Intercités services will also be affected in the west, south-west and south-east.

Bus services in many towns were also hit by drivers walking out.

CGT and Force Ouvrière are objecting to the planned employment law changes agreed between the CFDT union and business leaders. Protest meetings have been called for 174 towns with a major demonstration to start at Châtelet in Paris at 14.00 and heading to the National Assembly via Rue de Rivoli and Place de la Concorde.

The CGT leader Bernard Thibault said it was "uncomfortable" to be demonstrating against President Hollande but the employment deal had more in common with bosses' wishes than those of ordinary workers. He said it would "weaken the rights of employees".

This accord sur l'emploi will be presented to the cabinet tomorrow and Employment Minister Michel Sapin called it a “good deal” which would come into force in May.

Parti Socialiste first secretary Harlem Désir said employees had won concessions in exchange for more flexibility, such as the restrictions on short-term contracts, the changes to health top-up insurance and renewable rights to unemployment benefits.

For more information, go to the SNCF and TER website for your area by clicking through from the following links:
SNCF Infolignes for TGV and Intercités services
TER website for local services