On January 19, 2020, France will experience a black day with a national strike to protest against the government’s pension reform project. Disruptions will be particularly significant in Ile-de-France and other areas. The inter-union has called for a strike and the whole of the left has called for participation.
Transport: disruptions will be particularly significant in Ile-de-France
More than 200 assembly points have already been listed throughout France. The disruptions will be particularly significant in Ile-de-France, the Parisian transport unions having protested against the abolition of their special pension scheme. The disruptions will also be significant in other cities such as Lyon.
Rail transport
Very significant disruptions expected in public transport, with a “massive” strike movement against the pension reform and the postponement of the legal retirement age to 64, scheduled for Thursday January 19:
- TER, TGV, Intercités: Very few trains in circulation, it is advisable to postpone travel.
- SNCF plans 1 TGV out of 5 on the Atlantic axis, 1 TGV out of 4 on the East axis, 1 TGV out of 3 on the North axis, 1 TGV out of 3 on the South-East axis and 1 Ouigo out of 3.
- Only 1 out of 10 TER will run, no Intercités will run.
- Eurostar and Thalys international connections will run normally, but traffic on the Lyria lines (towards Italy) will be “severely disrupted”.
The metro and buses in Ile-de-France
Metro, RER, bus in Île-de-France: Very disrupted traffic, all RATP unions calling for participation in the movement:
- Lines 1 and 14 will operate normally due to their automation.
- Lines 2, 3, 3bis, 5, 6, 7, 7bis, 9, 12 and 13: very disrupted traffic, some lines will only be open during peak hours.
Strike planned also in other sectors
Disruptions also expected in schools, refineries, ports, airports, hospitals, public services and private companies:
- Disruptions will also be significant in road transport, with strikes planned among truck drivers and truckers.
- Strikes planned in the ports of Marseille and Marseille-Fos.
- In airports, with planned strikes among air traffic controllers and support staff.
- In schools, with planned strikes among teachers and supervisory staff.
- In hospitals, with planned strikes among medical and paramedical staff.
- In public services, with planned strikes among municipal employees, civil servants and postal workers.
- In private companies, with planned strikes among workers in factories, shops and warehouses.
General strike and fed up!
It is clear that January 19 is going to be a very difficult day for the French and that the strike will have an impact on all sectors. Citizens are at their wits end and want their demands heard by the government. The purpose of this mobilization is to clearly signal their fed up and to ask them to reconsider their pension reform project.
- A nationwide strike is scheduled for January 19 to protest against the government’s pension reform plan.
- The disturbances will be particularly significant in Ile-de-France, with a “massive” strike movement against the pension reform and the postponement of the legal retirement age to 64 years.
- Disruptions are expected in rail transport, metros, buses in Île-de-France, schools, refineries, ports, airports, hospitals, public services and private companies.
- The planned strikes among truck and truck drivers, air traffic controllers and accompanying staff, teachers and supervisory staff, medical and paramedical staff, municipal employees, civil servants and postal workers, and workers in factories, shops and warehouses.
