These actions all have different causes but they have one thing in common: they are all scheduled for the months of November and December.
Strike calendar: France prepares for a difficult winter
French political expert John Lichfield told the Talking France podcast: “I think some of these strikes are not to be taken too seriously, the two to worry about – because they have proven to be powerful in the past – are the farmers and the railway workers workers.
Listen to John’s full interview on the Talking France podcast. Listen Here or on the link below
“The farmers’ protests could be unpleasant: farmers say that what they were promised at the beginning of the year has not materialised, and I think that is true, but it is difficult to see how the government can quickly deliver on those promises, given the current situation. political unrest.
“The railway workers’ strike could also be bad because it concerns an abstract issue – the privatization of parts of the SNCF network – so it cannot be repaid with a salary increase or a change in working conditions.
Announcement
“If there is a link between all these problems it is the country’s terrible budget situation, but the country is in something of a dark mood and this is not helped by the large layoffs announced at Michelin and the Auchan supermarket chain.
“There are signs that the improvement in the unemployment situation seen in the Macron years could reverse in the next year, so there is this sense of unease and unease about the way the economy and politics are going and that perhaps encourages people to present their demands aggressively.
“But it is also normal that in France there is a lot of social unrest at this time of year.”
Stéphane Sirot, historian specializing in the history of strikes, he told Ouest France who sees 2024 as a special case, saying: “In the history of strikes, there have been movements that were more likely to take place in the autumn or spring.
“But this is less true today, since most of these conflicts are defensive. For example, if public employees call a strike, it is because the government is taking measures that they consider harsh. Or Michelin employees demonstrate after the announcement of the layoff plan. are reacting to measures that they consider harmful to them.”
However, he said France’s current political instability was also a factor, adding: “The duration of the current government is uncertain, as are the decisions it will make.
“With tight national budgets and high European expectations, political leaders have little room for
But there are some good reasons why all these separate controversies seem to be happening at the same time.
Budget time
Autumn is the traditional time when the government approves the budget for next year and this can often spark strikes if there is something in the budget that certain sectors don’t like. For example, Pilots’ strike on Thursday was called to protest plans to increase the one-off environmental tax on airline tickets.
If the government is planning something truly radical in its budget – like an overhaul of the pension system – this can spark cross-sectoral strikes.
The 2025 budget is an “austerity budget”, containing millions of euros in savings and tax increases.
Christmas goal
Strikes are often deliberately aimed at causing maximum disruption during a particularly busy period for the industry, meaning that the Christmas and New Year holidays can be a target, especially for rail strikes, as Christmas is one of the busiest periods on the railways.
This year the rail unions have has called a “renewable” strike starting from 11 December which could include the Christmas period.
Sometimes even the pre-Christmas threat is enough: last year unions called a surprise last-minute strike among Channel Tunnel workers which completely blocked all services through the tunnel four days before Christmas. Their dispute was over pay and, as was obvious, the bosses gave in to their demands within a few hours.
Quiet time for farmers
French farmers are also planning to resume protests from November 18, after widespread roadblocks that brought much of France to a standstill in January and February.
The November start date is tied to the G20 meeting in Brazil, since one of their complaints is the EU’s Mercosur deal with South America, but there is also a more practical reason: winter is a quiet for many farmers.
The vast majority of farmers are self-employed and cannot afford to stay away from their farms for long periods to organize protests; However, winter is a quiet time for farmers, meaning protest actions can have a better level of support.
Annual salary negotiations
Different industries have different schedules, but many industries have annual salary deals that run based on the calendar year. The last two months of the year are therefore when wage negotiations between unions and bosses take place – and if the unions feel that the negotiations are not going well, they are likely to call, or at least threaten to call, a strike.
Other reasons
Often, however, strikes are called in response to a concrete event and in this case they can occur in any season. For example, workers at the Michelin factory in Clermont-Ferrand are going on strike in response to the announcement of mass layoffs.
You can find the latest news on strikes in France and expected disruptions in our strikes section HERE.
How are the farmers and railway workers coordinating their protests against the government?
Interview: Navigating the Upcoming Winter of Strikes in France
Editor: Welcome to Time.news! Today, we’re diving into an impending season of social unrest in France, as we prepare for a winter marked by a series of strikes. Joining us is renowned political expert, John Lichfield. Thank you for being here, John.
John Lichfield: It’s my pleasure to be here. Thank you for having me.
Editor: The headlines suggest a turbulent winter ahead, with multiple sectors preparing to strike. What do you think is driving this surge in labor unrest?
John Lichfield: Well, the current labor actions stem from various causes, notably concerning farmers and railway workers. These two groups have a history of powerful strikes, which makes their potential actions particularly concerning. Farmers, in particular, are unhappy as promises made by the government earlier this year went unfulfilled, and it’s hard to see how these can be addressed thanks to the prevailing political instability.
Editor: It sounds like a perfect storm of economic and political factors. Can you elaborate on the farmers’ perspective? What are their key grievances?
John Lichfield: Absolutely. Farmers feel let down by what they see as broken promises from the government regarding support for their industry. They’re grappling with heightened costs and a general sense that their livelihoods are being overlooked. The government, however, is faced with its own budgetary issues and may struggle to meet these demands quickly. This could lead to significant unrest in rural areas, especially if their grievances aren’t addressed.
Editor: And what about railway workers? Their potential strike seems to be linked to broader issues—can you explain that?
John Lichfield: The railway workers are protesting against the privatization of parts of the SNCF network. This is a more abstract issue that goes beyond immediate pay or working conditions, so a strike in this context can be particularly effective for drawing public attention to their concerns. The complexity of the issue generally makes it harder for the government to offer straightforward solutions.
Editor: It seems like these issues are compounded by a general atmosphere of discontent. You’ve mentioned the economic situation—how is that impacting public sentiment?
John Lichfield: Yes, there’s a palpable sense of unease in France right now. The announced layoffs at major firms like Michelin and Auchan have only intensified this mood of insecurity. After experiencing improvements in unemployment during the Macron years, there are now signals that this trend may reverse. This economic uncertainty is likely to embolden workers to voice their demands more aggressively.
Editor: You mentioned that autumn traditionally sees a rise in strikes due to budget announcements. How significant is this annual budget cycle in fueling the unrest?
John Lichfield: It truly is a crucial timeframe. The autumn budget discussions often lead to tensions, particularly if specific proposals clash with the interests of public employees or other sectors. With the 2025 budget being framed as an austerity budget, featuring cuts and tax increases, it’s likely to trigger strong responses across various industries.
Editor: With Christmas approaching, how strategically timed are these strikes? Is there a pattern to target peak holiday periods?
John Lichfield: Absolutely, strikes are often strategically timed to maximize disruption. The holiday season is especially busy for sectors like transportation. Many unions know that the pain of a strike will be felt most keenly during this time, which can sometimes lead to quicker resolutions. Just last year, we saw a last-minute strike over pay that halted Channel Tunnel services, and the employers capitulated quickly.
Editor: As we look toward December and this wave of strikes, what can we expect in the coming weeks?
John Lichfield: I think we should prepare for an uncertain and possibly tumultuous winter. If the farmers and railway workers move forward with their strikes, we could see serious disruptions not only in transportation but throughout various sectors of the economy. The public will likely be watching closely to see how the government responds, especially as they face mounting pressure to balance economic constraints with social stability.
Editor: Thank you for your insights, John. It seems like a complex situation with no easy answers. We’ll certainly keep an eye on the developments as they unfold.
John Lichfield: Thank you for having me. It’s crucial that we pay attention to these dynamics—they will shape the conversation around social justice and economic policy in France going forward.
Editor: And thank you to our audience for tuning in! We’ll be sure to follow these developments closely in the coming weeks.