French airport workers have planned a strike to take place a week before the Paris Olympics commence at the end of July.
The CGT, CFDT, FO, and UNSA unions have scheduled the strike for July 17, just nine days before the Paris Games start on July 26.
They are advocating for all employees to receive an Olympics bonus and have criticised the CEO’s unilateral decision to grant a bonus to only select staff members.
The unions have announced their decision to “suspend their involvement in all types of meetings with management” and have called for a strike on July 17 to address their concerns. This announcement followed closely after the New Popular Front leftist coalition surprisingly emerged as the top contender in the second round of legislative elections.
Results revealed that the coalition secured just over 180 seats, surpassing President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance with over 160 seats, and Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally and its allies who landed in third place. The NFP is a coalition of various left-wing parties, including France Unbowed (LFI) led by the outspoken leftist Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the Socialist party (PS), The French Green party (LE-EELV), and the French Communist party (PCF).
Unions at state-controlled Groupe ADP, responsible for managing Paris’ primary airports Charles de Gaulle and Orly, had previously scheduled a strike on May 19, which did not cause significant disruptions.
During the Olympics, these two airports will serve as the primary entry points for foreign visitors, accommodating up to 350,000 people daily, including athletes and their gear.
From July 18 onwards, numerous athletes will begin arriving as the athletes’ village opens, utilizing a new temporary facility at Charles de Gaulle to handle oversized sports equipment like kayaks, bikes, and pole-vaulting poles.
Various public sector unions in France have requested additional compensation or assistance for working during the Paris Games from July 26 to August 11, coinciding with the country’s traditional summer break.
Police, air traffic controllers, waste collectors, government workers, metro and train operators, as well as firefighters, have all raised concerns, urging their employers to address their demands to prevent disruptions.
Even workers at the national mint, responsible for producing the Olympic medals, have gone on strike, although management claims that production remains unaffected.