French ports blocked by strike action and some ferries cancelled
Several French ports are still blocked by strike action on Thursday and ferries have been delayed or cancelled.
Strike action is currently affecting seven French ports as members of the CGT union are taking part in a 72 hour walk-out as part of the ongoing mass transportation strikes over planned reform of the pension system.
For full coverage of the dispute - which h been ongoing since December 5th - click here.
The disruption had been largely focused on trains and the Paris public transport system, with ports escaping relatively unscathed.
But on Tuesday the hardline CGT union called for a 72-hour walk-out starting, and for pickets on Friday, in 'Opération ports morts'.
The union does not represent all port employees, so some staff are still working and the disruption varies from place to place.
In total seven French ports are affected to varying degrees - Calais, Dunkirk, Le Havre, Rouen, Nantes-Saint-Nazaire, La Rochelle and Marseille.
The worst affected ferry ports are Le Havre and Marseille, where the ports are totally blocked.
Commercial docks are also blocked at Rouen and Nantes, where local media are reporting that this is the worst blockade in 10 years.
Brittany Ferries announced the cancellation of sailings between Portsmouth and Le Harve for Wednesday and Thursday.
Image: Brittany Ferries
In Marseille sailings between Marseille and Corsica have been cancelled until Friday by the Corsica Linea ferry company.
Dockers are also striking at La Rochelle.
Dunkirk and Calais are less badly affected and although there is some disruption most ferries are sailing as normal.
The Eurotunnel is running normally.
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Strike action is currently affecting seven French ports as members of the CGT union are taking part in a 72 hour walk-out as part of the ongoing mass transportation strikes over planned reform of the pension system.
For full coverage of the dispute - which h been ongoing since December 5th - click here.
The disruption had been largely focused on trains and the Paris public transport system, with ports escaping relatively unscathed.
But on Tuesday the hardline CGT union called for a 72-hour walk-out starting, and for pickets on Friday, in 'Opération ports morts'.
The union does not represent all port employees, so some staff are still working and the disruption varies from place to place.
In total seven French ports are affected to varying degrees - Calais, Dunkirk, Le Havre, Rouen, Nantes-Saint-Nazaire, La Rochelle and Marseille.
The worst affected ferry ports are Le Havre and Marseille, where the ports are totally blocked.
Commercial docks are also blocked at Rouen and Nantes, where local media are reporting that this is the worst blockade in 10 years.
Brittany Ferries announced the cancellation of sailings between Portsmouth and Le Harve for Wednesday and Thursday.
Image: Brittany Ferries
In Marseille sailings between Marseille and Corsica have been cancelled until Friday by the Corsica Linea ferry company.
Dockers are also striking at La Rochelle.
Dunkirk and Calais are less badly affected and although there is some disruption most ferries are sailing as normal.
The Eurotunnel is running normally.
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