As rising prices continue biting on the French economy, workers begin to demand higher wages. President Emmanuel Macron of France is left to make tough decisions owing to these challenges. Since his reelection in May, he has had to deal with major macroeconomic crises.
Strike Flares In France
Weeks ago, French workers embarked on industrial strike action. Consequently, refineries, among others, suspended work, leading to a dishevel in fuel supply. Accordingly, the recent uprising is a derivative of the already ongoing industrial sit-in.
As per the latest developments, it will mainly impact the public sector. That is, schools, hospitals, and transit agencies belonging to the government will be temporarily locked out.
Meanwhile, trade union heads hope to manage the matter prudently before it goes haywire. These leaders wish the government’s resolution would be enough to get industrial workers working again. The reason for this is to resume fuel sales in the country.
However, several union members opined that such a move would impede the right to strike. Olivier Veran, France’s speaker, inferred that the movement could incite demand for staff replacement. Since the old workers are unwilling to work, it might be correct to replace them.
He added that the government had reached a compromise with workers, yet they were unsatisfied. Veran stigmatized the situation as abnormal.
Further, CGT, a liberalist union at TotalEnergies, hits its fourth week on strike. Earlier, the company had promised the union a 7 percent wage lift plus Friday bonuses. But these workers insisted on a 10% increase in remuneration, alluding to the organization’s massive profits and rising prices.
Elsewhere, Eurostar declared the strike had forced it to halt London to Paris trains.
Strike Booms Across French Borders
SNCF, France’s public railway station, noted that local traffic connections declined by 50%. Meanwhile, major rails encountered no interruptions. Strike actions continue heating within Europe’s second considerably best economy.
Several ends of the energy sector keep locking out, including EDF. EDF handles Europe’s power maintenance. However, given the institution is affected by the ongoing strike, maintenance services would be delayed.
On Monday, a delegate of the FNME-CGT union shared an outlook on the strike situation. According to them, workers at ten nuclear power plants within the country joined the action. As a result, maintenance duties at thirteen reactors got put off.
Currently, power throughputs in France have dropped by 2.2 gigawatts.
Furthermore, public servants announced their intention to participate in the prevalent walkout on Tuesday. Essentially, this would result in a pause in public services from different sectors. Public schools, and transportation, among others, would temporarily suspend work activities.
Elizabeth Borne, France’s Prime Minister, said the strike is happening amid an intense political upheaval. She revealed that the French officials sought to unveil the 2023 budget while maneuvering a parliamentary vote. At 12 GMT, workers would demonstrate on behalf of their demands beginning in Paris.
