It was already announced at the end of June, but most people forgot about it during the Summer.
There's a General Strike in the Public Sector on 7th September 2010.
i.e. SNCF and all public transport, La Poste, Education (a couple of days after La Rentrée), l'Administration (Mairie, Préfecture, Impôts, CPAM, Pole-Emploi, ....).
You have been warned!

What are they after? Other than Sarkozy's head

the usual - more pay, less work...., oh yes, and a pension

Retirement age is 60 at present in France (much earlier for SNCF, EdF, the Police and Military, and "difficult" professions), and the Syndicats don't want it to be raised to 62, a step nearer to the European average.

Me again, to remind you that there's to be a "journée d'action" on 15th Sept. (which might simply be demonstrations), and that the SNCF and Paris RATP have announced yet another strike for the 23rd.
Best to check with French media nearer the time to find out whether other sectors decide to join them....

L'education nationale is having a day off.........er, I mean a strike, on the 23rd but there's no "journée d'action" on the 15th, but then there wouldn't be because the 15th is a wednesday, so theres no point striking on your day off.......

We arrive in paris on October 8 - thanks for the info. Any way we can find out in advance if there is going to be a general strike on that day and do they last all day or just several hours and if there is one on that day how late will the metro etc be? Will it affect the airport and planes landing


I know so many questions and so little time.....

France is closed on the 8th, Try Belgium.

I dont think there is a strike on the 8th, But im not that prone to paying attention anyway.

Always so helpful - NOT.......

I see the Americanisms are catching Might as well tear the border fence down now make Canada part of North Dakota as they have been looking to expand.

It's a bit early for the Syndicats to announce a strike so far ahead. Check with your airline company a few days beforehand, and hope for the best. Air controllers and Air France do tend to join in if there's one going.
Before you leave, you can also check on the RATP website for up-to-date info on the reduced métro and bus services.
Strikes last all day....

dropped into this minefield during one of my english lessons last week; the guy was adamant that despite the retirement age being the lowest in Europe at the mo, it was illogical to increase the retirement age as quote " no-one will employ someone over the age of 55; so increasing the retirement age just means paying out unemployment benefits for longer and so costs the state more!"

Any attempts to offer positive arguments for were totally rebuffed and this is a normally very pleasant and rational guy!

I predict and long era of frequent strikes. I thought I heard on the radio that there would be another strike on the 23rd; glad to see my ability to grasp the radio is improving!

Hi
You could remind your student that the legal retirement age used to be 65 until the early 80s and no one complained about it. Président Mitterand reduced it to 60 just after he was elected. That, together with the infamous 35-hour week (with no reduction of salary), became a "droit acquis" that the Syndicats have refused to relinquish since Chirac came to power in 1995, despite the successive economic crises here.
On second thoughts, maybe you should avoid the subject!

Heres an interesting article I found on the BBC website - maybe you could you it in your english lessons!

A useful article; I will try and use it soon!!!