VAre you looking for another day of massive mobilization against the government’s pension reform project? After the success of January 19, the unions are again calling for a strike this Tuesday, January 31. A way to maintain pressure on the executive while the text arrives at the National Assembly in early February.
The first day of mobilization had seen more than a million demonstrators pounding the pavement across France, according to the Ministry of the Interior – two million according to the unions – and numerous disruptions in transport, education, the energy… This is much more than during the previous reform attempt at the end of 2019: 806,000 demonstrators had marched for the launch of hostilities. What to expect this Tuesday? We take stock.
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Public transport and train
At the SNCF, the mobilization had been very followed on January 19. Despite a slight improvement, traffic will once again be severely disrupted at national level, with barely one in three TGVs, almost no Intercités and two in ten TERs. In Île-de-France, the Transilien and RER lines operated by the SNCF will also be slowed down, from one train in three to one train in ten, or even not at all on certain lines.
At the RATP, on the front line because its special regime is threatened for new entrants with the reform, the inter-union is also calling for a strike. The disturbances will be strong, but a little less than on January 19: only the small line 3 bis will be completely closed, the others will be open only at peak times, and sometimes not entirely, with fewer metros than usual. The RATP’s RER will also be disrupted. As for buses and trams, mobilization will be more painless for passengers, with eight out of ten trams and buses on average.
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In other metropolises, the service will also be severely degraded. In Lyon, for example, one metro line will be completely closed and the others will close earlier in the evening. In Marseille or Toulouse, traffic is also announced as “very disrupted” this Tuesday, January 31, and will be detailed the day before.
A foretaste of what could await users in February, the unions already calling for a new mobilization on February 7 and 8, when the school holidays will have started for zone A, then for a renewable strike “from mid- february “. For its part, FO transport intends to “disorganize the functioning of companies” by calling for a strike one hour a day at the start of service from January 31.
Air Transport
In the air sector, Civil Aviation announced that one in five flights would be canceled at Orly airport on Tuesday. This does not exclude disruptions at other airports, or even mobilizations within companies which could lead them to cut additional flights.
National Education
The Sud-Éducation union is calling for a renewable strike from January 31. In education, the first day of mobilization had been very well attended, with 65% of strikers among secondary school teachers and 70% among primary school teachers, according to the unions; 34.66% and 42.35% depending on the ministry.
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Fuel
The CGT chemistry had taken the lead and announced, from the start and unilaterally, several actions after January 19, including one of 48 hours which begins this Thursday January 26, then a new 72 hours on February 6. It will then propose a renewable strike to the employees of the sector.
Energy
The electricity and gas industry sector also sees its special regime threatened, for new entrants, by the reform project. A renewable strike, launched by the CGT, has been underway since January 19. Between the days of mobilization, the union also wishes to carry out “highlights”, in particular free operations to reduce the bill of individuals or bakers, for example, or even the restoration of cut lines.
The CGT is also still threatening to carry out targeted power cuts to protest against the government’s reform project. Several took place on January 19, affecting in particular an industrial zone of Massy near Paris, or the permanence of Figeac of the deputy Renaissance of the Lot, Huguette Tiegna, who filed a complaint, according to The Midi Dispatch.
Illegal practices assumed by the boss of the CGT, Philippe Martinez, who explained on RTL wanting to “try to make billionaires live for a few hours, a few days, the situation experienced by millions of households in fuel poverty”. A method criticized by other unions, the president of the CFE-CGC considering in particular that this “weakens the movement”.
Ski stations
Two demands in one for the employees of the ski lifts, whose unions are calling for a strike this Tuesday, January 31 against the pension reform, but also against the new, more restrictive unemployment insurance scheme for seasonal workers. FO’s notice is unlimited, but only for a question of legal deadlines, assures the union, which says it does not want to “further weaken companies already in difficulty” after several seasons upset by the pandemic. “The lifts will operate normally from the next day. »
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And after ?
This second stage should be followed by new days of strike, the unions having warned that they would continue the mobilization until the withdrawal of the text. The next strikes could generate disturbances in the middle of school holidays, which begin on February 4 for zone A. school holidays, ”warned Philippe Martinez on RTL.
One, or even several dates of new mobilizations should be announced in the wake of this Tuesday, January 31. It remains to be seen whether the mobilization does not weaken over time. The CFDT particularly wants mobilizations on weekends to rally even more people, a possibility on the table.