Strike situation getting worse in France
 

I am supposed to land in Paris this Wednesday June 4 with a group of 8 people. I was prepared to deal with a possible strike affecting the RATP (buses and metros) and the SNCF (we have tickets for the TGV to Avignon on June 7). But now the greves.com site is forecasting more strikes by, among others, civil aviation (air controlers)for June 3,4 and 5; the post office and France Telecom (phones) beginning June 2 for an "unlimited duration" and a general strike (just about everybody) for June 2 and 3. The strike "barometer" has gone from "normal" to "passable." Wondering how bad it has to get to be "rouge"!

I am most concerned about the strike at France Telecom. Does this mean that there will be no phone service? We are supposed to call the owner of the house we are renting in Provence when we get to Apt so that he can meet us and take us to our house. This is assuming that our plane can land at CDG and we can somehow get to Avignon to pick up our cars! Any advice?

I doubt that the telephones will stop working. Phone systems now normally work without human intervention.

We were affected by the French air traffic controllers stike both going to Spain and coming home (last week). It was on our leg to/from Amsterdam to/from Madrid. They were only letting so many planes fly over their airspace. It really only delayed us by an hour.

I would bet that the France Télécom strile just means FT offices will be closed and employees will be striking. I can't imagine the phone service in France will shut down! If you're really concerned, though, buy/rent a cell phone. It's almost a given that the owner of the house in Apt has a cell phone - get the number and communicate with him that way (or by e-mail).

Phones are NEVER shut down during strikes

And to be "rouge", just look at what happened in Paris in May 1968 ;-)

Thanks. You have all made me feel a bit better. I guess I'm just a little panicky. A friend of mine flew into CDG on May 27, which was also a strike day for air controlers, on the same USAir flight I'm taking so I hope that is a good sign that we'll make it, too.

The RATP strike looks like it won't be a complete shutdown and, as for the SNCF, I hope that by the 7th at least the TGV will be running.

At least if the phones are working I can make alternate plans and inform my house owners that I'll be late if necessary. If we can just make it to Avignon, I think we'll be fine the rest of the way. St. Cirq, I do have a tri-band cell phone that I am taking (will use international roaming or buy a French SIM card if I can find a place to buy it that isn't closed for the strikes) but thanks for the suggestion. Not sure if my house owner has a cell. He doesn't have e-mail; I have had to make all arrangements by fax or phone. I may call him again tomorrow just to make sure we can rendez-vous no matter what happens.

Any other suggestions or comments welcome.

I think you are a bit wrong about the RATP/SNCF.
The hardest workers unions (CGT,FO...) are calling for a general strike at least on june 3.

http://www.lemonde.fr/recherche_arti...CHIVES=776+419
(in french)