A “historic mobilization”. This is what the trade unions hope for Labor Day, Monday, May 1, which this year will be marked by a 13th day of demonstrations against the pension reform. 300 processions are already expected throughout France, according to the CGT. Added to this are strikes and disturbances in some sectors. So what to expect this May 1st? The Express takes stock.
100,000 demonstrators in Paris and rallies throughout France
From the promulgation of the pension reform by Emmanuel Macron on the evening of April 14, Laurent Berger, the leader of the CFDT, had wished “that on May 1, we break the house in number of demonstrators in the street. […] We have to go there with the family, in the popular, festive, convivial mobilizations, to say that we want another world of work and not at the age of 64.” At the microphone of RTL, Sophie Binet, the new general secretary of the CGT, said gave the same speech: “We need to be extremely numerous on May 1st for our messages to be heard. I really call to come in numbers on May 1st with family, children, friends…”
Demonstrations will thus be organized throughout France on Monday. Territorial intelligence anticipates between 500,000 and 650,000 people throughout France, including 80,000 to 100,000 in Paris. The mobilizations planned in the capital, but also in Nantes and Rennes, will be particularly scrutinized because of the risk of overflows. On Europe 1, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced that 12,000 police and gendarmes will be deployed on the territoryincluding 5,000 in Paris.
Very disrupted air traffic
Air traffic promises to be very disrupted on May 1 due to the participation of controllers in the strike movement against the pension reform. Between 25 and 33% of flights will be canceled at the largest French airports.
The General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) has asked airlines to give up a third of their flight schedule at Paris-Orly and a quarter at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle, to bring traffic and number of air traffic controllers available. These work stoppages, at the call of unions, will also concern many regional airports: 33% of flights will have to be canceled preventively in Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Nantes and Toulouse, while 25% of flights will be canceled in Nice and Beauvais, said the DGAC in a press release.
Call for strike at SNCF
If no strike notice has yet been filed in the railway sector, the SNCF inter-union (CGT Cheminots, UNSA-Ferroviaire, SUD-Rail, CFDT Cheminots) calls on its employees to “make May 1 a successful day of strikes and demonstrations all over the country”. Traffic forecasts should be known this Sunday.
Metro stations closed in Paris
On the side of the capital, the RATP unions have not yet filed a strike notice either. On the other hand, due to the demonstration, which will start at Place de la République to reach Place de la Nation, certain metro stations will be closed from 11 a.m. at the request of the Prefecture of Police, announced the RATP. The trains will not mark the stop and the connections will not be assured.
This will concern Oberkampf (lines 5 and 9), Saint-Ambroise (line 9), Voltaire (line 9), Charonne (line 9), Rue des Boulets (line 9) and Filles du Calvaire (line 8).