Tomorrow (Tuesday) could be a tough day for travelers and others, as protests by taxi drivers, air traffic controllers and farmers promise disruptions.
A taxi driver strike planned for Tuesday may block roads in the area of Paris CDG airport, as well as along the PÉripherique ring road around the city. The drivers continue to be upset over unlicensed competition from Uber and others, and government failure to enforce regulations.
The air traffic controllers say that 50% of flights could be affected, although aviation authorities expect only 20% will be delayed or cancelled. Airlines have not yet notified passengers of which services will be affected.
And in western France, farmers have been blockading roads in a protest against falling prices for farm produce that has effectively cut their income—similar to the complaint of public service unions that wage freezes have effectively cut their real wages.
For more details from TheLocal.fr, click HERE
Photo: In protest last summer, taxi drivers block Uber van
Not wanting to extend this too far, but no, no particular ethnic group is represented; it’s actually got a mix…and both the licensed and unlicensed drivers in Paris do include, as in many other cities including New York, a fair percentage of recent immigrants.
I think your characterization of France in general is a bit unfair; direct action is not always pretty, but is sometimes the only way to get government attention. We’ve see that in many countries; whether a specific one gets labeled as a movement, a strike, or ‘random violence’ probably depends on the labeler’s point-of-view. As for France…hard to imagine the French Revolution without the women’s march on Versailles, or the storming of the Bastille, n’est ce pas?
Whenever France has a “day of action” they block the ports and air traffic controllers block the air space over their country.
This effectively puts a blockade on all traffic to Europe and beyond from the UK.
Trucks are set ablaze. Miles of traffic bound for the UK is trapped. Families held to ransom in the ice cold winter. Stuck on freeways.
Britons held in faraway airports because their flights coming home cut across French airspace.
And the Riot Police stand by and watch as the Mob Rules.
Hmmm. Drfumblefinger, are you sure you weren’t in LA? 😉 Don’t they seem to do the same thing…Dodgers win a Division…riots. Lakers win a major series…riots again. Now that they got the Rams back, yipes.
I’m being a bit tongue in cheek, of course. But I have to wonder if Paris’ and France’s protests or strikes ever really yield results. Granted, the only thing I can compare it to are the social and political protests of late in the Bay Area; which, I fail to see how blocking traffic on the Bay Bridge actually sends a message to bring about political or social change. But, I digress.
Ahhh. France’s national pass-time seems to have become rioting in the streets and damaging private property — usually with police in riot gear standing by and watching. Nothing quite like mob rule.
Am I reading more into your photo than intended, or is there a certain ethnic group over represented in this image?
Also not wanting to take this too far, but during our last visit to Paris the city was locked down two nights as the “rowdy youth” took to the streets and rioted. The reason had nothing to do with gaining government attention or making a political statement. Paris had won the French soccer division. That’s all. Not a World Cup or even a European Union win. Paris had the best soccer team in France — my, what a surprise. But the action cost the city millions in property damage and lost business revenues (most business were bolted shut with iron grids protecting windows and doors).