Rosemary

So I saw...…..bad, bad, bad.

Rosemary

Annetje

Thanks for your info. I tried to ring them this morning but no answer. That's nothing new though, they never seem to answer.
If they were nearby I would just pass and see but they are 1 h away ...
Anyway, I sent a private message on my account and will get an answer soon. Normally they are not that bad.

My problem is a bit that the tax office here has waisted the best part of 3 weeks by now and this has to be sorted before end december since I want to claim back for previous years.
We'll see how this goes.

Scools here seem to be open as usual. Franckly, I haven't noticed anything from the strikes. That's village life I suppose.

Chatter Static

It didn't help the opted to strike on the coldest day of the year which is why they have decided to do it again next week when it might be wet or snowing.....

Tweedpipe

Next Tues (10th Dec) has been announced as another strike day by SNCF and other unions, so if you were planning to travel by rail that day, you'll be out of luck. Plus there are sure to be other manifestations the same day so it looks rather like a repeat of yesterday. The unions are saying if the government make no satisfying statements by the end of Tues, strike action will be continued - very likely on Thurs.
If an agreement between the government and the unions cannot be found early in this current wave of social unrest, it's already being hinted that things could turn into a repeat of the Nov-Dec 1975 month of massive transport strikes under prime minister Alain Juppé. I remember it only too well. Finally at that time the government withdrew the 'Plan Juppé reform of special regimes.
At a time when Edouard Philippe is trying to pass the governments pension reform, many of the arguments defended at the time by Juppé are currently being echoed.
A summary of what's happening:

dmu

Tiny typing error!! I, too, remember 1995 and not only by reason of the teachers' strike. I was already "down South" by then, and during the strikes managed to receive and return work by fax (or did I have internet already?) My problem was sending original certified declarations and I had to spend a fortune on Chronoposts or the like, or lose a client....
Even in those days, your average protester forgot that the régimes spéciaux (at least for the SNCF) were created in the steam-train era to compensate train drivers' hard working condiitons. Present-day train drivers are anxious not to lose "acquired rights" which are no longer applicable.... And don't get me started on all the perks that the families of SNCF, EdF, AirFrance, etc... employees enjoy...

Tweedpipe

@DMU.
As you say definitely keyboard finger-trouble here. Of course it was 1995, what was I thinking of?
I can perhaps guess. 1975 was the year I got married here, so obviously a pretty memorable year. Was I unconsiously thinking that........(looks over shoulder to ensure nobody else is reading this)........instead of turning up on that occasion, I should have perhaps gone on strike........

Tweedpipe

With ref to my post #7 and DMU's comment, "Normally", artisans and the private sector don't go on strike - they would lose clients if they did," she is of course correct - once again!
The technician came to examine our cental heating boiler problem on the 5th, same day as the strike. He didn't have a replacement part though, which had to be ordered. So we've been without any hot water until this afternoon (10th Dec) when the technician came back with the spare part - and today being another day of major strikes too.
So I guess we've been lucky compared to many who have been stuck in huge traffic jams throughout the country, and those blocked at railway and bus stations attempting to get to & from work these last few days, and which I understand is likely to continue at least until Thurs. I'm hoping, like many, for a 'normal' weekend.
Thank goodness that at least I can now get a good, well-needed hot shower, or bath. Splish-splash!
.......now that rings a bell........

dmu

Me, too, or at worst the weekend after. I've got train tickets reserved for a Christmas break with les Girls and will be very peeved if we're all stuck at home (or in DD1's case on the German border) on our tods.... We'll know the Syndicats' reactions to the PM's announcement later on....
A blast from the past re Charlie Drake!!

Tweedpipe

I've been watching the French news closely today for new developments, and it doesn't look good.
After the midday announcements by the government, it appears that the proposed changes have been rejected by the hard-line, influential CGT union, also impacting CFDT and RATP unions. The teacher's union and the police union also show dissatisfaction with the details of the proposed pension reforms, and plan to continue their industrial action. Tomorrow (Thurs 11Dec) is targeted for another major show of action, and also next Tues 17th Dec.
With several of the country’s eight oil refineries remaining blocked, this raises the prospect of fuel shortages and even more chaos on the run-up to the end of the year's holiday season.
I believe the plan was to pass the bill through parliament in Feb 2020, but with so much opposition being shown, one can only wonder if the reforms will happen. However the government appear determined, and Macron being Macron.......
That Tues 17Dec date is a personal blow, as we have to be in Agen at 11:00 (almost a 3hr drive) for a very special, long-time awaited specialist's appointment. Have now decided to travel the day before, and have just booked a hotel for Mon evening. I suggest that those planning to travel between now and the end of the year have some sort of plan B if possible.
Unless I'm very mistaken it's sure to be another winter of dissent. Someone please, please prove me wrong!

cyrian

@TP
We were returning to the UK with TGV booked for Thursday 5th and our plan B was similar to yours.
We swapped our tickets for 5th to the 4th and booked a hotel at CdeG airport.
Our flights ended up 2 hours late because of air traffic restrictions but we arrived home as planned.
Good luck

Tweedpipe

Glad you managed to find an acceptable solution Cyrian. Hopefully with adequate information, others will too in similar travel situations.

dmu

This happened to me once, I had to find a hotel in Paris when the cheminots went on strike without prior warning. I felt like sending the bill to the CGT headquarters for reimbursement.....
I've organised my Plan B if, as threatened, there won't be a truce over Christmas - a BlaBlaBus (ex OuiBus).

Nand

Tweedpipe

Interesting and strange, given that the strike on the 5th was a Thurs, and today a Tues. What day normally do your refuse collectors come past for collection?
Ours is every Monday morning (put out the evening before), and so far has been collected regularly.

Nand