French Strikes to Hit Fuel Stations. 7-10 January.

[PhilandMena]

Union leaders have called for a day of mass protests on 9 January. A new blockade of petrol facilities, including refineries, petrol terminals and depots, is also planned on 7 January for 96 hours until 10 January.

France's transport strike against pension reform has entered its 29th day, making it the longest rail workers' strike since May 1968.

Industrial action against President Emmanuel Macron's planned pension reform has hit train services hardest.

The government says the changes are necessary to make the system fairer and more sustainable, but unions say workers will lose out.

More talks are due to be held between unions and government on 7 January.

• Why are French workers on a nationwide strike?
• French PM outlines 'fairer' pension plan

In his New Year's Eve address on Tuesday, Mr Macron vowed not to back down on his plan to overhaul France's complex pension system that would require people to work longer.

"It would be a betrayal of our children, their children after them, who would then have to pay the price for our giving up," he said.

Union leaders have called for a day of mass protests on 9 January. A new blockade of petrol facilities, including refineries, petrol terminals and depots, is also planned on 7 January for 96 hours until 10 January.

 

[David and Sally]

I know I'll get a knocking from some Funsters, but this is one reason I am actively avoiding France. Their constant thirst for strikes by all and sundry.

 

[PhilandMena]

Interesting times ahead for France I believe. The Government can no longer afford to maintain the economic status quo for workers, which is amazingly generous and the workers know this and will not accept change even if it brings France to it's knees. Macron and the Government are dammed either way and the future for France is all about change.

 

[Sandancers]

Hope they get it solved by June !!

 

[chaser]

I know I'll get a knocking from some Funsters, but this is one reason I am actively avoiding France. Their constant thirst for strikes by all and sundry.

Make sure to fill up at every opportunity, keep out of towns and keep to speed limits and you will be fine

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[David and Sally]

Make sure to fill up at every opportunity, keep out of towns and keep to speed limits and you will be fine

And when their dockers strike, then their air traffic control, then their farmers block roads, their lorry drivers blockade, the yellow jackets block roads...etc...etc. It's wall-to-wall disruption that I don't intend to get caught up in.

 

[chaser]

And when their dockers strike, then their air traffic control, then their farmers block roads, their lorry drivers blockade, the yellow jackets block roads...etc...etc. It's wall-to-wall disruption that I don't intend to get caught up in.

Just find a nice Aire , park up and let them get on with it, might even join the farmers

 

[The general]

Interesting times ahead for France I believe. The Government can no longer afford to maintain the economic status quo for workers, which is amazingly generous and the workers know this and will not accept change even if it brings France to it's knees. Macron and the Government are dammed either way and the future for France is all about change.

I hope so ?

 

[gus-lopez]

then their air traffic control,

They've been on weekly strikes since 2015. Just doesn't get reported much.

 

[David and Sally]

They've been on weekly strikes since 2015. Just doesn't get reported much.

The strikes are working then? ...or not working - if you know what I mean.

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[Charente16]

To be truthful, it's not the 'Unions' it is the CGT Union that is causing the problem. The majority of the 'Unions' are willing to negociate and realise that France cannot afford the current 'Social/Retirement and Health' system that we currently enjoy. All Macron wants to do is have a 'Universal' retirement age of 62, but the 'Hard Line' Left of Left CGT needs to show 'positive action' to it's members who make the most noise for political reasons , but do not represent the views of the population in general; the result of my conversations with my neighbours. Admittedly, a small rural Commune, but people who have worked hard all their lives and certainly can not be called well - off by UK standards, but they are' happy with their lot' and do not have the option of retiring on a 'full pension' at the age of 55 because they worked on the railways etc., The Armed Services, Police/Fire etc., are an exception and that is acknowledged. Although, most of the 'Fire Service' operatives are civilian volunteers that do not qualify for pensions as such.

It is to be hoped that Macron sticks to his guns, unlike Hollande who promised 'Reform' but then Backed - Down at the first hint of trouble.

Robert

 

[2x2camper]

Hope they get it solved by June !!

Hopefully before that

 

[PhilG]

I know I'll get a knocking from some Funsters, but this is one reason I am actively avoiding France. Their constant thirst for strikes by all and sundry.

Not from me , I got caught up in one of these in 2018, and vowed never to go back. Sadly , as we make so many trips, and you cant ferry in to Belgium any more, its nots possible.

I have however not spent a penny there since (apart from a metaphoric one in DFDS terminal).

 

[David and Sally]

I use Harwich to Rotterdam now. Like you, I begrudge spending any money in France and I try not to buy French goods or wine. Childish I guess, but they do pee me off.

 

[dabhand]

I’ll be passing through in the 9th or thereabouts, will I get fuel?

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[Wild Brambles]

Macron is a Goldman Sachs banker, and is bidding to take control of the EU, now that Merkle is going. Hopefully the French will be able to replace Macron, and rebuild their country. It seems to be unlikely though. The longer that the disruption and destruction continues, the harder it will be possible to recover.

 

[Louis]

I’ll be passing through in the 9th or thereabouts, will I get fuel?

Buy a Crystal Ball ?

 

[PhilandMena]

I’ll be passing through in the 9th or thereabouts, will I get fuel?

Oh Please! ! Simon, read the sodding opening post ! I worry about you, you know!

 

[tuscancouple]

Childish I guess, but they do pee me off.

I'm really struggling to understand how a whole nation (France) can pee you off? Have you ever made any French friends? Have you ever sat down to discuss your views with a French person? Seems a little weird to have an issue with a whole nation.

Mick

 

[PhilandMena]

Watched a bit more on TV last night and much of it as Charente16 said in post#11 However, there is more as much of the pension schemes in France are final salary pension schemes and to add to the woe there is many different pension schemes. Macron wants to have one pension scheme based on points and not final salary and increase the retirement age to 62. There is also a big concern felt by mature adults as employers are unwilling to take them on and this adds greatly to the fear that is felt by this age group. It must be hurting the French economy but they don't seem to have any choice. When we were travelling down through France early last year we went through a Yellow vest picket line and were not hassled in any way shape or form. They could see we were Brits mumbles something in French, got a wave and a smile in return and they waved us on our way.

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[chaser]

I'm really struggling to understand how a whole nation (France) can pee you off? Have you ever made any French friends? Have you ever sat down to discuss your views with a French person? Seems a little weird to have an issue with a whole nation.

Mick

Yeah my thoughts as well , apart from the EU stuff what exactly harm have they done you, where we go in France we have never met anyone that wasn't friendly, even though I speak about 7 words of French I always find some way of getting on with them, and just think , UK folks go approx a couple of months at the most, the ordinary French live with it all the time.
They aren't striking to piss off the English, probably never even think about it.

 

[David and Sally]

I'm really struggling to understand how a whole nation (France) can pee you off? Have you ever made any French friends? Have you ever sat down to discuss your views with a French person? Seems a little weird to have an issue with a whole nation.

Mick

Ok, I agree the wording is a bit misleading. I have toured France for 40+ years and generally like the French people, except maybe a few snotty ones on shops etc, but it's more their political system and bureaucracy that allows them to disrupt all and sundry when they have a beef about something. If I want to go on holiday I don't want to be frettting for weeks ahead as to whether the ferry, plane or train will get there. I don't want to worry about if our road is going to be blocked or if fuel is available as per this thread. Seems a lot of Funsters are concerned.

The final straw was about 3 years ago when we were touring France on a motorcycle and they had put Operation Stack on because Calais was blockaded. That meant a serious detour in baking heat to get to Dover. I was not best pleased. I did wounder if the French really valued my Euro. Actually I had nearly three to spend!!

And then there's the French government's beligerent attitude (seems to me) about our leaving their overblown EU project.

I spend elsewhere now.

 

[Jaws]

Of more concern to the diesel flow at the moment is what is happening in Iran... Oil already gone up over 3%

 

[EMS]

There is as had been said a great difference with he pension schemes in France depending on the employer you could retire at 55 or 60 with a significant difference in pension. The minimum pension could easily much lower than the UK, but these people are not complaining compared to the people retiring at 55 or earlier with a better pension!
The current French pension model is not sustainable with the ageing population, this was something that Madame Thatcher's parliament noted hence the rise in retirement age in the UK.
Local government has also had its monies significantly reduced due to other actions by Macron so it will be a lean time for French communities.

 

[dabhand]

Oh Please! ! Simon, read the sodding opening post ! I worry about you, you know!

Make sure to fill up at every opportunity, keep out of towns and keep to speed limits and you will be fine

Of course I read it Phil my little viper, then I read Chasers post! So can you get fuel or not my little turd burglar?

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[BILL 875]

Portsmouth to Santander it is french though

 

[PhilandMena]

Of course I read it Phil my little viper, then I read Chasers post! So can you get fuel or not my little turd burglar?

Yes ! Scrumptious nuts! But you might have to steal it !

 

[tuscancouple]

political system and bureaucracy that allows them to disrupt all and sundry when they have a beef about something

So similar to South Western train guards for the whole of December? All workers have the right to withdraw their labour.

they had put Operation Stack on because Calais was blockaded

I live in Kent, it's a nightmare when stack's in operation, however once again, all workers have the right to withdraw their labour,

Guess it's when these industrial issues impact those not directly involved in the dispute they become a pain, so should the "all workers have the right to withdraw their labour" be modified to "as long as it doesn't impact those not involved in the dispute". Not going to work like that is it?

Mick
ps, it's raining here again (!) so I can't get on with the roof job on our house, you're helping me pass the time away until it stops

 

[David and Sally]

So similar to South Western train guards for the whole of December? All workers have the right to withdraw their labour.



I live in Kent, it's a nightmare when stack's in operation, however once again, all workers have the right to withdraw their labour,

Guess it's when these industrial issues impact those not directly involved in the dispute they become a pain, so should the "all workers have the right to withdraw their labour" be modified to "as long as it doesn't impact those not involved in the dispute". Not going to work like that is it?

Mick

Since Maggie we have had way less in the way of strikes and flying pickets etc, and I agree that the selfish barstewards in SW Rail are causing massive disruption to normal people who just want to go about their daily lives.

The French just seem to use strikes as a weapon way more than in the UK and affect more innocent bystanders.

 

[tuscancouple]

The French just seem to use strikes as a weapon way more than in the UK

Agree

Mick

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