What will be the extent of the strike movement this Thursday, January 19? The unions hope to make an impression and put pressure on the government to withdraw its pension reform.
It is a decisive day for social mobilization: this Thursday, January 19, the unions are counting on a massive strike movement and large-scale demonstrations to send a strong signal. For the CGT, the CFDT and the 6 other trade unions, this day must be the first act of mobilization against the pension reform, which the government wants to have adopted by the summer.
It is still difficult to know if this movement will be very followed and if the processions will be very provided in the main cities of the country. But we already know which sectors are affected and the disruptions to be expected. This strike of January 19, 2023 concerns:
- SNCF
- RATP
- national education
- Higher Education
- refineries
- aviation flight attendants
- the energy sector
- all public service professions
- ski resort employees
strike at school
The strike of this Thursday, January 19 should be very followed in schools, colleges and high schools. The FSU, the first teachers’ union federation, has launched a call for broad mobilization: “Quality of public service, salaries, pensions, it is always a question of the distribution of wealth, the government is opening up several fronts, let’s be present-es on all!”, she wrote in a press release. The appeal of the FSU was followed by all the other national education unions.
Note that a strike, planned for a long time, is organized this Tuesday, January 17, to demand a salary increase, and the improvement of the working conditions of teachers.
SNCF strike
All the unions of the railway group have called for a strike. The disruptions should be very important this Thursday, but the traffic disruptions should not be known until Tuesday or Wednesday.
Strike at the RATP
The unions of the Ile-de-France group are also organized so that the strike of January 19 is very followed and very impactful on the operation of the RER, metros, buses and trams. Traffic forecasts should not be communicated until Wednesday, January 18.
Strike in aviation
In this sector, the strike could be less significant, only a minority union has filed a strike notice. For the time being, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) has not alerted to the risk of flight cancellations this Thursday, January 19.
Refinery Strike
The Oil branch of the CGT called for a strike on Thursday January 19, then on January 26 and February 6. It is to be expected that “shipment stops” for fuel convoys in France, but the impact in pumps should be limited this Thursday. If the strike continues or if it gains momentum, the risk of a shortage or partial shortage will be significant for the beginning of February.
Strike in the civil service
The eight unions have called on all civil servants to drop out and demonstrate against the pension reform. Here again, given the diversity of trades and sectors of activity of the public, it will be necessary to wait until the day before the strike to take the measure of the disturbances generated in the public service. It should be noted that the Synergie-Officiers police union called for a strike on January 19; at the hospital, the strike should generate significant waiting times in the reception of patients.