The SNCF has filed a strike notice for October 18th (protest against government project to change public service retirement plans). The Paris metro may join the movement as well as other municipal services in the rest of France.

Or the whole thing could be called off before then, if any progress is made during negotiations.

Just keep this date in mind if you will be in France at that time. A strike could be a one-day almost unnoticeable affair, or it could turn into something much bigger. There is absolutely no way of telling at the moment.

I googled it and it seems to be called for Oct. 17th...who knows what may happen between now and then!!

I will be there....it certainly won't bother my trip..walk more and taxi more, perhaps.....

I'll have to watch this. Yesterday evening I booked the TGV from Paris to Reims on October 18th.

Anselm

The first date announced was the 17th, but they immediately changed it to the 18th when they found out that the 17th was the "Journée mondiale du refus de la misère".

(so as not to detract from media coverage of a day in support of disfavored people)

Obviously, google is not as up to date with information as this forum is!!

Will all need some watching....

Do strikes in France last more than one day or, like Italy, does this tend to be a one day event? We have TGV tickets for 10/20 from Avignon to CDG.

Thanks,

Margret

This sort of strike is normally only for one day, but this strike is planned as an anti government show of force, so all it will take is one poorly worded declaration or one police mishap for it to blow out of proportion.

Theoretically, all should go well, because the government made a very stupid blunder right from the start and will try to avoid repeating it.

They had said "The reform of the retirement plan is completely ready so we are going to talk to the trade unions now about the new measures." The trade unions went through the roof -- "what do you mean 'COMPLETELY READY' when, as per French law, the constitution and all existing jurisprudence you cannot consider making any changes to existing contracts without consulting the trade unions first?" So some major back pedaling was done, but the whole purpose of the strike is to have a showdown...

bookmark

kerouac - Thanks for the heads up and pls keep us updated. We are actually planning to visit Versailles that day, that's not good as I assume the RER won't be running either?

Does someone have the website for the strike info? I had it from last year for our Italy trip but didn't realize it was a problem in France that late in the year. Thank you

I just googled and the most current info seems that the "final" word on whether a strike or not will be announced on Oct. 1st......

That is at least what I found on google........

Looking forward to hearing what's going to happen. As it stands right now, I have a plan A and a plan B for the 18th ...

Anselm

I just found this update as of Sept. 28th:
http://tinyurl.com/yvvvzh

Yes, it looks like the strike is definitely on. EDF and GDF, the electric and gas companies have called for a strike on that day as well.

Do you mean that we may not have any electricity in our apartment???

That used to actually happen. However, now they just cut powers to things like factories or office buildings (an hour or two at most).

That's good to hear!!!

It may get settled and not even happen, too!!

We arrive on the 15th, so we will just see how it goes!!

Keep us posted, if you get the early news about it..
Thanks.........

Here is an article from the BBC:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7000095.stm

From the little I have read and asked locals (who work in the private and public sectors (have a friend who is an ex-EDF exployee, retired at 50 on full pension and loving it! He's 53 now)

These public servants for the SNCF, RATP, EDF, some theatre works (Comedie Francaise), government employees from cleaning staff to high managment can retire at 50 years of age with full pension until they pass away (85% of their old salaries)

SNCF works get a coal allowance (something pre-dating the war), which the government would like to get rid of plus other allowances from when the steam trains were running.

Each day they strike is added payment to their retirement plan and they get paid for the days they take off to strike PLUS get their travel fare re-imbursed to get to the strikes by their company afterwards.

Workers assigned from outside of Paris have free accommodation in beautiful apartments in prime real-estate (was invited to one recently and it looked like a mini-Versailles).

They work 35 hours a week, 8 weeks holidays.

No wonder the French deficit is in a shambles. I hope Sarkozy wins! and the unions back down with new reforms coming in.

It didn't work in 1995 when unions called for strikes which lasted 3 weeks and ground the country to a stop (many small private businesses closed down because of it and I was on holidays here when it happened!). Hopefully it should work this year as most people are fed up with the unions holding the country to ransom with strikes for their priviledges.

<<Each day they strike is added payment to their retirement plan and they get paid for the days they take off to strike PLUS get their travel fare re-imbursed to get to the strikes by their company afterwards.>>

That is totally and completely untrue, and the rest is just ranting.