France's September 18 Strike: Anticipated Impacts on Transportation and Tourist Attractions
France Braces for Nationwide Strike and Protests
France is gearing up for a significant nationwide strike and protests, scheduled for Thursday, as various trade unions voice their disapproval of the government's budget cuts unveiled over the summer. The new Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has not yet ruled out these budget cuts, sparking further tension.
The unions, including the CGT, CFDT, and several others, have denounced the government's budget cuts as 'unprecedented brutality.' This collective action, the first of its kind since June 2023, will see nine unions marching together, with the CGT's leader, Cyril Chabanier, aiming for over a million people to join the strike.
The strike is expected to cause widespread disruption across the country. Air France may be affected by strike notices from at least three unions, leading to potential cancellations and delays. Paris transport operator RATP faces major disruption, with the RATP advising passengers to work from home or postpone travel if possible. The Paris transport system's online planner is available in English for real-time updates on metro and RER journeys.
Outgoing Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot has stated that nine out of ten high-speed TGV trains will be running, while SNCF's regular network, Intercités, will see significant disruption. Around three out of five regional trains (TER) are expected to run. However, regional train services will be disrupted, with varying levels of disruption depending on the area.
The strike is also affecting education, with almost 3,000 classes across more than 6,000 schools having no assigned teacher this year, according to the union's back-to-school survey. One-third of primary teachers are expected to strike, with the largest primary school union citing a lack of adequate resources and a real budget as the reason.
The protests are not limited to Paris. Museums and landmarks across the country could see limited access or closures. The Arc de Triomphe has already closed a day ahead of the strike, and the Louvre and Versailles may follow suit.
In response to the potential pharmacy closures, due to government cuts to the rebate for generics, French pharmacies are expected to have around nine out of ten locations closed during the strike.
To help mitigate the impact of the strike, Paris transport operator RATP is partnering with Lime to offer 3,000 free bikes for rentals through the app.
The leader of the CFDT union marching on Friday is Laurent Berger, and he views the announced financial measures of the French Ministry of Finance as insufficient. The unions aim to surpass the 'Block Everything' movement in terms of demonstrator count.
Authorities estimate turnout could surpass 800,000, making it a significant event in French politics. The new Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has not ruled out these budget cuts, indicating that a resolution may not be imminent.
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