IN PICTURES: How a Paris transport workers strike provoked travel chaos
It is predicted to bring the worst disruption to Paris in over a decade, and rush hour commuters have been documenting their attempts to get to work.
All the unions on Paris' RATP public transport are taking strike action in a coordinated protest over plans for pension reform.
READ ALSO LATEST: Paris Metro strike 'worst disruption in over a decade'
Ten of the city's 16 Metro lines are not running at all, while services are badly disrupted on tram, bus and some RER suburban train services.
Belle journée. #greveratp pic.twitter.com/ujWAdbG7YH
— Arnaud Tousch (@nanotousch) September 13, 2019
AFP
The services that are running are extremely busy as thousands of commuters try to get to work, and there is also very high demand for the city's bike sharing and dockless scooter services.
#greveratp en image.
Et il n'est que 7h du matin... pic.twitter.com/FrsSjVeK7Y
— Lily Stardust 17 #BotEnMarche #StopGiletsJaunes (@LaGirafe1976) September 13, 2019
The one-day walkout has been sparked by French president Emmanuel Macron's plans to reform France's highly complicated pension system and standardise pension regimes.
Pour les autres c'est plus compliqué ?#greveratp #greves pic.twitter.com/6hLrY3LilE
— Isabelle (@IsabelleEduc) September 13, 2019
This has provoked fury from unions, particularly in the transport sector where employees benefit from specific pension regimes that allow certain types of workers to retire on a full pension at the age of 55.
Not easy getting on one of the few Paris Metro services this morning. Line 7 trains rammed. A few tourists on platform who had no idea strike was on. They soon realised walking is the best option if possible.#Parisstrike #greveratp pic.twitter.com/A00W4hHFSw
— The Local France (@TheLocalFrance) September 13, 2019
Unions say these generous arrangements are recompense for relatively low levels of pay, anti-social hours and shift work and exposure to pollution and chemicals in the course of their work.
Grève massive à la RATP contre la réforme des retraites. Rassemblement en cours devant le siège à Bercy #ratp #greveratp #reformedesretraites pic.twitter.com/P7CK2Y6PRw
— RévolutionPermanente (@RevPermanente) September 13, 2019
While some Parisians shared pictures of horribly overcrowded trains and massive queues, others had snapped the eerily deserted stations where the lines were closed altogether.
ça a le mérite d'être clair ! #Metro #greveratp pic.twitter.com/k39ZYLgoEV
— switch-me (@Switchmelike) September 13, 2019
Buses in Paris like the Metro trains are packed to the rafters this morning. You will struggle to get on. We fully recommend walking everyone.m, if you can. It's set to be a beautiful day too.#greveratp #parisstrike pic.twitter.com/iKxVtRNXWo
— The Local France (@TheLocalFrance) September 13, 2019
And while there was frustration among commuters, many also expressed solidarity with the strikers in their efforts to protect pension rights for workers.
Malika, a teacher studying how she can get across Paris to work this morning before Metro stops. "They have a right to strike of course. I support them. But it's a mess for everyone else", she said. #greveratp #parisstrike pic.twitter.com/dOMtWCYEg5
— The Local France (@TheLocalFrance) September 13, 2019
But there was frustration at prices being charged by Uber - where prices are linked to demand.
Sinon ça va @UberFR, vous avez pas l’impression de profiter de la #greveratp pour vous goinfrer ? pic.twitter.com/3Ou6LAOwi5
— Baptiste PIEKACZ (@BaptPkz) September 13, 2019
While others simply wished that 'flying Frenchman' Franky Zapata had got his hoverboard on the market.
Zapatta quand il lit vos tweets #greveRATP pic.twitter.com/6PAUFXvQEa
— ThePenDontLie (@ThePenDontLie) September 13, 2019
Comments
See Also
All the unions on Paris' RATP public transport are taking strike action in a coordinated protest over plans for pension reform.
READ ALSO LATEST: Paris Metro strike 'worst disruption in over a decade'
Ten of the city's 16 Metro lines are not running at all, while services are badly disrupted on tram, bus and some RER suburban train services.
Belle journée. #greveratp pic.twitter.com/ujWAdbG7YH
— Arnaud Tousch (@nanotousch) September 13, 2019
AFP
The services that are running are extremely busy as thousands of commuters try to get to work, and there is also very high demand for the city's bike sharing and dockless scooter services.
#greveratp en image.
— Lily Stardust 17 #BotEnMarche #StopGiletsJaunes (@LaGirafe1976) September 13, 2019
Et il n'est que 7h du matin... pic.twitter.com/FrsSjVeK7Y
The one-day walkout has been sparked by French president Emmanuel Macron's plans to reform France's highly complicated pension system and standardise pension regimes.
Pour les autres c'est plus compliqué ?#greveratp #greves pic.twitter.com/6hLrY3LilE
— Isabelle (@IsabelleEduc) September 13, 2019
This has provoked fury from unions, particularly in the transport sector where employees benefit from specific pension regimes that allow certain types of workers to retire on a full pension at the age of 55.
Not easy getting on one of the few Paris Metro services this morning. Line 7 trains rammed. A few tourists on platform who had no idea strike was on. They soon realised walking is the best option if possible.#Parisstrike #greveratp pic.twitter.com/A00W4hHFSw
— The Local France (@TheLocalFrance) September 13, 2019
Unions say these generous arrangements are recompense for relatively low levels of pay, anti-social hours and shift work and exposure to pollution and chemicals in the course of their work.
Grève massive à la RATP contre la réforme des retraites. Rassemblement en cours devant le siège à Bercy #ratp #greveratp #reformedesretraites pic.twitter.com/P7CK2Y6PRw
— RévolutionPermanente (@RevPermanente) September 13, 2019
While some Parisians shared pictures of horribly overcrowded trains and massive queues, others had snapped the eerily deserted stations where the lines were closed altogether.
ça a le mérite d'être clair ! #Metro #greveratp pic.twitter.com/k39ZYLgoEV
— switch-me (@Switchmelike) September 13, 2019
Buses in Paris like the Metro trains are packed to the rafters this morning. You will struggle to get on. We fully recommend walking everyone.m, if you can. It's set to be a beautiful day too.#greveratp #parisstrike pic.twitter.com/iKxVtRNXWo
— The Local France (@TheLocalFrance) September 13, 2019
And while there was frustration among commuters, many also expressed solidarity with the strikers in their efforts to protect pension rights for workers.
Malika, a teacher studying how she can get across Paris to work this morning before Metro stops. "They have a right to strike of course. I support them. But it's a mess for everyone else", she said. #greveratp #parisstrike pic.twitter.com/dOMtWCYEg5
— The Local France (@TheLocalFrance) September 13, 2019
But there was frustration at prices being charged by Uber - where prices are linked to demand.
Sinon ça va @UberFR, vous avez pas l’impression de profiter de la #greveratp pour vous goinfrer ? pic.twitter.com/3Ou6LAOwi5
— Baptiste PIEKACZ (@BaptPkz) September 13, 2019
While others simply wished that 'flying Frenchman' Franky Zapata had got his hoverboard on the market.
Zapatta quand il lit vos tweets #greveRATP pic.twitter.com/6PAUFXvQEa
— ThePenDontLie (@ThePenDontLie) September 13, 2019
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