French airport workers to continue strike on first weekend of summer holidays
After a weekend of flight cancellations and delays, airport workers in France are calling for a continuation of strike action for the first weekend of the summer holidays as they demand a pay increase to cope with the rising cost of living.
Ground staff at Aéroports de Paris - which operates both Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports - have already already staged multiple walkouts this summer. For the first weekend of July, which also saw firefighters striking for increased wages, 17 percent of flights cancelled at Charles de Gaulle airport in just the morning to afternoon timeframe.
Unions still feel their wage demands have not been heard by management and have filed a new strike notice for the period of Friday July 8th to Sunday July 10th. This will impact the Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports.
The strike call was co-ordinated between the unions that represent staff at the two airports.
Workers are asking for a six percent pay raise in order to compensate for inflation and rising cost of living, dating back to January 1st. In response, management has proposed a four percent pay raise, dating back to July 1st.
Unions rejected the offer, arguing this does not compensate for the losses workers endured during cost-cutting plans imposed during the 2020-2021 period of the pandemic.
Air passengers were already being warned of possible delays at French airports - especially in Paris - due to widespread staff shortages in the aviation industry.
The continuation of strike action comes at the same time as the beginning of the summer holiday season, with the weekend of July 8th being a 'big getaway' for French families after the end of the school year on Thursday, July 7th.
In addition to the continuation of strikes for the weekend of July 8-10th, the Roissy CGT local union, which represents employees of companies operating at the Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport, has separately announced that it will continue its strike from July 13th to 17th.
Airlines recommend checking your flight status before arriving at the airport.
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Ground staff at Aéroports de Paris - which operates both Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports - have already already staged multiple walkouts this summer. For the first weekend of July, which also saw firefighters striking for increased wages, 17 percent of flights cancelled at Charles de Gaulle airport in just the morning to afternoon timeframe.
Unions still feel their wage demands have not been heard by management and have filed a new strike notice for the period of Friday July 8th to Sunday July 10th. This will impact the Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports.
The strike call was co-ordinated between the unions that represent staff at the two airports.
Workers are asking for a six percent pay raise in order to compensate for inflation and rising cost of living, dating back to January 1st. In response, management has proposed a four percent pay raise, dating back to July 1st.
Unions rejected the offer, arguing this does not compensate for the losses workers endured during cost-cutting plans imposed during the 2020-2021 period of the pandemic.
Air passengers were already being warned of possible delays at French airports - especially in Paris - due to widespread staff shortages in the aviation industry.
The continuation of strike action comes at the same time as the beginning of the summer holiday season, with the weekend of July 8th being a 'big getaway' for French families after the end of the school year on Thursday, July 7th.
In addition to the continuation of strikes for the weekend of July 8-10th, the Roissy CGT local union, which represents employees of companies operating at the Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport, has separately announced that it will continue its strike from July 13th to 17th.
Airlines recommend checking your flight status before arriving at the airport.
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