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Paris public transport unions announce one-day strike

The Local France
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Paris public transport unions announce one-day strike
The Paris metro has been running with less passengers than usual since the French government imposed a second lockdown to halt the spread of Covid-19. Photo: AFP

Transport unions in the Paris region have called on workers to join a walk-out, with all public transport services set to be affected.

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Five unions representing worker with the Paris transport authority RATP that runs transport networks in greater Paris region of Île-de-France called for all workers to "massively mobilise" on Thursday, December 17th - two days after the date when France plans to lift its lockdown.

As a consequence buses, metro services, trams and RERs in the capital and its suburbs may run at a reduced level.

In a joint press release, RATP unions CGT, UNSA, Solidaires, Sud and SAT said they called the strike to show their "dissatisfaction and concern" over the decision to open the regional transport network up to more competition.

 

Initially planned for mid November, the strike was postponed until December due to the tense health situation, which unions said now "had slightly eased".

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In a former press release they decried the consequences the increased privatisation would have on their working conditions, their salaries and their holidays.

The regional bus network will be the first concerned by privatisation, with private companies allowed to bid on the network as of January 1st 2025.

It was not immediately clear on Tuesday just how many workers would participate in Thursday's strike, but employees of the French transport sector are legally obliged to give a 48-hour-notice if they intend to join a strike so more details are expected in the days before strike.

READ ALSO Striking in France - what are the rules and do strikers get paid

Last year transport unions reduced public transport services to a near-halt as they organised in a mass-protest against the government's proposed pension reforms.

 

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Anonymous 2020/12/02 10:20
Nothing like kicking a dog when it's down- no scruples imo

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