Within a week, three sectors intend to mobilize and make their anger felt. Le Figaro takes stock of these upcoming social movements.
Towards a tense end of the year on the social front. And the protests begin this week. Starting this Thursday, November 14, no fewer than three strike movements will dominate the news in the space of a week. Sectoral mobilisations, which will concern air transport, agriculture and railways. Le Figaro takes stock of these upcoming social movements.
November 14: airline pilots’ strike
The black week on a social level will begin on Thursday 14 November with a strike in the airline sector, in response to increased taxation in the sector. The national union of airline pilots (SNPL) has in fact implemented its threats, announcing this mobilization on Sunday 10 November, after the Assembly voted for an increase in the tax on airline tickets during the budget debates.
“Against the government’s desire to withdraw an additional billion a year from the airline sector, we invite pilots but also all employees of the airline sector to mobilize on November 14th”said a spokesperson for the ultra-majority pilots’ union, also asking “a meeting near the National Assembly at the end of the morning”. In a joint press release issued last Sunday, several other sector unions (UNSA Transport, UNSA PNC, CFE-CGC FNEMA, UNAC, SNPNC-FO and FEETS-FO) announced that they had “called “All employees of the airline industry will come to demonstrate their disagreement with this lethal taxation for jobs in front of the National Assembly on November 14”. The impact of this strike on air traffic should be known in the coming days.
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November 15: Resumption of farmers’ actions
Still? Less than a year after the large-scale protest movement partially paralyzed major French roads earlier this year, farmers are expected to resume their actions starting this Friday, November 15. If the symbolic actions have already resumed in recent weeks, they should be amplified, in particular at the call of the majority unions FNSEA and Young Farmers (JA). “We decided to return to the field”said FNSEA director Arnaud Rousseau during a press conference organized on 22 October.
The free trade agreement between the EU and Latin American countries, Mercosur, currently under negotiation, is in the farmers’ sights. A “scarlet line” for Arnaud Rousseau, the agricultural world denounces an agreement that would be reached “to the detriment of our food sovereignty, our economies and the health of consumers”. Among other requests, professionals cite “a better consideration of the health crisis” in livestock farming, or even clarity on state-guaranteed loans. For now, little information has filtered out on the details of the protest actions. The local branch of the Rural Coordination of Lot-et-Garonne, at the forefront of the January unrest, announced a demonstration in front of the prefecture of Agen on November 19 and subsequent actions aimed at blocking the transport of French food products.
November 21: strike at SNCF
Next week, Thursday 21 November, it will be the turn of the SNCF agents to strike. They want to protest against the dismantling of Fret SNCF, the division of the company dedicated to rail freight transport, and against the conditions of opening up regional lines to competition. All railway unions are calling for a stop to work from Wednesday 20 November at 7pm to Friday 22 November at 8
Regarding the dismantling of Fret SNCF, the trade unions “reaffirm that the establishment of a moratorium is possible and necessary to allow the different actors to come back around the table and find ways to guarantee not only the continuity of Fret SNCF, but also its long-term development”. Beyond this “Ultimatum Day”the inter-union presented a renewable strike notice starting from 11 December, ten days before the Christmas holidays, to increase pressure on the company.
“The dialogue must be successful” between the managers of the SNCF and the unions, judged the Minister of Transport, François Durovray, on Sunday. “Everyone is responsible”, “we cannot imagine that when France has to move forward, it will be blocked and that when the French want to find each other again, they will not be able to do so”he told France Info. The traffic forecast for November 21st will be known 48 hours in advance, i.e. Tuesday November 19th.
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Interview between Time.news Editor and Social Movements Expert
Time.news Editor (T.E.): Good morning, and welcome to our discussion about the upcoming wave of social movements in France. Joining me today is Dr. Clara Dupont, a leading expert on labor relations and social activism. Clara, thank you for being here.
Dr. Clara Dupont (C.D.): Thank you for having me, it’s a pleasure to be here.
T.E.: Clara, we’re seeing a perfect storm of protests across multiple sectors, starting this week. Could you break down what’s happening and why these movements are coming to a head in November?
C.D.: Absolutely. We’re witnessing an unprecedented mobilization, not just in one sector, but across three significant ones – aviation, agriculture, and rail transport. Each of these industries has unique grievances that have culminated in collective action.
T.E.: Let’s start with the airline sector. Can you elaborate on the pilots’ strike set for November 14?
C.D.: Certainly. The strike is primarily a response to increased taxation imposed during budget discussions, where the Assembly decided to hike taxes on airline tickets. The national union of airline pilots, SNPL, is rallying its members and all employees in the sector to protest against what they view as “lethal taxation” that could threaten jobs. This has galvanized a broad coalition of unions to demonstrate outside the National Assembly, aiming to draw attention to their plight.
T.E.: And what about the farmers? I understand they’re planning to resume protests as well.
C.D.: Yes, the farmers’ protests are particularly significant. In the wake of last year’s large-scale disruptions across France, the FNSEA and Young Farmers unions are intensifying their actions. They are taking a stand against the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, which they believe undermines France’s food sovereignty and the economic viability of local farming. Their demands also include better handling of ongoing health crises in livestock farming and clearer terms regarding state-guaranteed loans.
T.E.: There seems to be a clear trend of workers from different sectors uniting over shared concerns about government policy. Do you see this as a sign of increased solidarity among workers?
C.D.: Definitely. What we are seeing is a convergence of interests across sectors. The pilots, farmers, and railway workers, despite their different industries, are all responding to similar themes of governmental oversight and economic pressure. This kind of solidarity is vital for social movements—when workers see others fighting similar battles, it energizes and amplifies their own efforts.
T.E.: The SNCF strike on November 21 is the final piece of this triad. What can you tell us about their issues?
C.D.: The SNCF agents are also voicing their concerns against ongoing dismantling efforts within the rail service. The specifics might vary, but fundamentally, they are fighting for job security and against perceived threats to public services. The timing of these strikes is strategic; coming after the airline and agricultural protests allows them to harness the momentum built by their colleagues.
T.E.: How do you anticipate the government will respond to these coordinated actions?
C.D.: The government faces a challenging situation. On one hand, they may feel pressure to quell these protests swiftly to maintain stability, especially nearing the end of the year. On the other hand, they have to consider the broader implications of disregarding workers’ grievances, which could lead to further unrest in the long term. Negotiating satisfactory solutions to appease these sectors without undermining fiscal policies will be a difficult balancing act.
T.E.: Before we wrap up, what do you think the long-term implications of these protests could be for French society?
C.D.: These protests represent a growing frustration with government policies perceived as harmful to workers. If these issues are not addressed, we could see a rise in social unrest both in France and across Europe. That said, if the government engages constructively with these groups, it might pave the way for more collaborative governance. Either way, these movements are critical for shaping the future of labor relations in France.
T.E.: Clara, thank you for your insights. This is certainly a critical moment in the landscape of French social movements, and we’ll be watching closely to see how it unfolds.
C.D.: Thank you for having me. It’s a conversation that needs to be had, and I appreciate the platform to discuss it.