Oct 12 Strike will cripple France

[TLCOhio]

From the New York Times this morning as breaking news, they have this headline: "France Asks Airlines to Cut Flights Ahead of Strikes" with these highlights: "The French civil aviation authority said on Monday it was asking airlines to cut flights into French airports by up to 50 percent on Tuesday because of possible strikes by airport personnel. The announcement intensified a mood of gathering crisis with labor unions calling for national stoppages on Tuesday as the Senate prepares to finalize a package of reforms to the retirement system proposed by President Nicolas Sarkozy. The measures, to be voted on Wednesday, would increase the minimum retirement age from 60 to 62. The civil aviation authority said France was asking airline operators to reduce flights into Orly airport outside Paris by 50 percent and by 30 percent to all other airports, raising the strong possibility that transport chaos on the highways will spread to the skies."

 

Full story at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/19/world/europe/19france.html?_r=1

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest. This posting is now over 21,500 views. Appreciate those who have “tuned in”.

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[moyaroo]

It is beginning to look like May 1968 all over again :eek:

[TLCOhio]

From the New York Times within the last hour, they have this headline: "Scattered Protests Still Grip France as Fuel Runs Low" with these highlights: "Maintaining his tough line, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France on Thursday warned demonstrators protesting his effort to increase the retirement age that they would not 'have the last word' and would be pursued and punished 'with no weakness' on the part of the authorities. The crisis shows little immediate sign of fizzling and a final parliamentary vote on Mr. Sarkozy’s plan to raise the minimum retirement age from 60 to 62 seemed unlikely until the middle of next week."

 

From the AP within the last hour, they have this headline: "Clashes, protests in French tensions over pensions" with these highlights: "Rioting youths attacked police in Lyon, protesters blockaded Marseille's airport, and Lady Gaga canceled concerts in Paris ahead of a tense Senate vote Thursday on raising the retirement age. A quarter of the nation's gas stations were out of fuel despite President Nicolas Sarkozy's orders to force open depots barricaded by striking workers. Gasoline shortages and violence on the margins of student protests have heightened the standoff between the government and labor unions who see retirement at 60 as a hard-earned right."

 

Full stories at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/22/world/europe/22france.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jHwKItnbAIyqYgOTdXgs7J7s4G0A?docId=69a62ca14a0a41e88a69a356d50d3af8

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69K1NL20101021

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest. This posting is now over 21,000 views. Appreciate those who have “tuned in”.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[TLCOhio]

From the Telegraph in London, they have this headline: "France braces itself for another week of protests as Sarkozy believes he has turned corner" with these highlights: "All are furious at the Senate's decision to approve new pension legislation which will see the retirement age rise from 60 to 62. The reform, which was passed by the French Parliament's upper house on Friday, is part of President Nicolas Sarkozy's concerted attack on a social system which he believes has pushed the country to the verge of bankruptcy. Despite French university students planning to march on Tuesday, and trade unions calling for their seventh one-day nationwide strike on Thursday, Mr Sarkozy is convinced he has turned a corner. Although there are protests planned for this week, many commentators think half-term school holidays could suck the momentum out of Thursday's general strike. Jerome Fourquet, of polling firm IFOP, said that the passing of the pension law meant 'the end-of-match whistle is blown. The demonstrations will fade away.' "

 

Here is the full story:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/8083968/France-braces-itself-for-another-week-of-protests-as-Sarkozy-believes-he-has-turned-corner.html

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest. This posting is now over 21,800 views. Appreciate those who have “tuned in”.

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[Hlitner]

Well, we started this thread in advance of the strikes and did encounter some resistance to our prediction (proven correct) that France was going to have some major disruptions. Some may want to call it anti French (we happen to love traveling in France despite some of the French) but we were trying to deal with reality. So now some wonder what will happen next and here is our take on the situation. The strikers have failed and Sarkozy has stood his ground (very rare for anyone in France to stand their ground). Since it now appears that Sarkozy has won his battle there seems little reason for the unions to continue to disrupt the country. The latest polls have Sarkozy with a popularlity rating of only 29%...but he is still the President. We would predict that things will gradually go back to normal since the big losers with these strikes are the workers. The policical ramifications in France may be the demise of Sarkozy, but only time will tell since the French have been known to change their minds in the blink of an eye.

 

Hank

[stunnedinva]

Well, we started this thread in advance of the strikes and did encounter some resistance to our prediction (proven correct) that France was going to have some major disruptions. Some may want to call it anti French (we happen to love traveling in France despite some of the French) but we were trying to deal with reality. So now some wonder what will happen next and here is our take on the situation. The strikers have failed and Sarkozy has stood his ground (very rare for anyone in France to stand their ground). Since it now appears that Sarkozy has won his battle there seems little reason for the unions to continue to disrupt the country. The latest polls have Sarkozy with a popularlity rating of only 29%...but he is still the President. We would predict that things will gradually go back to normal since the big losers with these strikes are the workers. The policical ramifications in France may be the demise of Sarkozy, but only time will tell since the French have been known to change their minds in the blink of an eye.

 

Hank

 

from Air France's website

National industrial dispute in France on October 28.

 

Some air traffic controllers' trade unions will take part in the general strike launched in France on Thursday October 28.

As a result, French Civil Aviation Authorities have asked all airlines to limit the number of their flights.

 

Therefore we expect to operate 100% of our long-haul flights, and have to cancel some of our domestic and European flights.

 

We apologize for any inconvenience this situation may cause you.

We will do our utmost to inform you of flight cancellations and offer you alternative solutions where applicable, either on a flight with Air France, with KLM through Amsterdam, or with one of the SkyTeam alliance partners.

 

Please check your flight status before you travel to the airport.

You can find live departures and arrivals information on the homepage by clicking on « Flight and Destination information ».

You may also :

> access the flight status information on your mobile device on "mobile.airfrance.com"

> phone the Air France local call centre or travel agent

> if you are in France, call Air France on 3654

[misslissa]

Flew Air France yesterday from Barcelona, connecting in CDG, home to Canada without a hitch. And, trains in Provence seem to be operating perfectly as well :)

[tluckhaupt]

We will be in Villefranche on Nov 16. We planned on going via train to Nice in the morning and to Monaco by train around noon. I thought our cruise would be too late to be affected by the strike, but now I am worrying. Should We make alternate travel arrangements?

[TLCOhio]

We will be in Villefranche on Nov 16. We planned on going via train to Nice in the morning and to Monaco by train around noon. I thought our cruise would be too late to be affected by the strike, but now I am worrying. Should We make alternate travel arrangements?

 

Hopefully things will work out fine on that date for these "local" trains. Things are starting now to return to somewhat "normal" for oil supplies, etc. Just monitor things as you get closer to your trip. You can check Google.com for their news section and check "France Strikes" to see any updates or major changes before you get there.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest. This posting is now over 22,800 views. Appreciate those who have “tuned in”.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[Hlitner]

We will be in Villefranche on Nov 16. We planned on going via train to Nice in the morning and to Monaco by train around noon. I thought our cruise would be too late to be affected by the strike, but now I am worrying. Should We make alternate travel arrangements?

 

There really is little you can do at this point. You really do not need to make any advance plans for using the trains (these trains are like regional commuter trains with no reservations) as you simply go to the train station and grab the next train. Another alternative are the regional buses (Ligne d'Azur) which also have two routes (a local and an express) that run between Nice (Gare Routiere Bus Station) and you could certainly take the bus if there is any issue with the trains. If there is a problem with the bus and train than you, and everyone else in the region, will have a big problem....for which there might not be a solution (a major transportation strike could also lead to blockades of some of the roads). We follow the situation in France quite closely (we did start this thread and our predictions have, so far, been pretty accurate) and it appears that things have calmed down in France. Only 8% of the French are in labor unions and at this point a large majority of the other 92% are ticked-off at the unions and their disruptions. Since the pension reform bill has passed both houses of the legislature (it still needs a Constitutional Council review) much of incentive for disruptions has ended (at least for the moment).

 

Hank

[TLCOhio]

There really is little you can do at this point. You really do not need to make any advance plans for using the trains (these trains are like regional commuter trains with no reservations) as you simply go to the train station and grab the next train. Another alternative are the regional buses (Ligne d'Azur) which also have two routes (a local and an express) that run between Nice (Gare Routiere Bus Station) and you could certainly take the bus if there is any issue with the trains. If there is a problem with the bus and train than you, and everyone else in the region, will have a big problem....for which there might not be a solution (a major transportation strike could also lead to blockades of some of the roads). We follow the situation in France quite closely (we did start this thread and our predictions have, so far, been pretty accurate) and it appears that things have calmed down in France. Only 8% of the French are in labor unions and at this point a large majority of the other 92% are ticked-off at the unions and their disruptions. Since the pension reform bill has passed both houses of the legislature (it still needs a Constitutional Council review) much of incentive for disruptions has ended (at least for the moment). Hank

 

Excellent summary and great, practical details from Hank. The headlines and video clips didn't look nice, but "real life" is working ahead. Best wishes for a great visit in France.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest. This posting is now over 22,800 views. Appreciate those who have “tuned in”.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923