Why are French workers on strike?

The purpose of the action is to call for better pay and working conditions in response to the rising cost of living. The work stoppage will likely result in business and transport disruptions nationwide, though participation will vary by sector. Related demonstrations will take place in town and city centers.

Is France known for strikes?

FRANCE tends to have more strikes than other developed countries, according to a 2008 study by financial journal Alternatives Economiques. They added that, while there were fewer days off work through strikes than in the 1970s, there had been a steady increase for 15 years.

Who owns French power stations?

Électricité de France (EDF) – the country’s main electricity generation and distribution company – manages the country’s 56 power reactors. EDF is substantially owned by the French Government, with around 85% shares in government hands.

Can power plant workers go on strike?

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a “sitdown” strike, when employees simply stay in the plant and refuse to work, thus depriving the owner of property, is not protected by the law.

How many strikes are there in France?

This statistic shows the evolution of the number of days not worked per 1,000 employees due to a strike in France from 2008 to 2019. It appears that they were 308 strike days per 1,000 employees in 2010, compared to 161 days not worked in 2019.

When were strikes Legalised in France?

Synopsis. On 25 May 1864 the French Corps Legislatif passed the Coalitions Law, effectively granting French workers the right to strike. The law revised earlier legislation that had classified the formation of workers’ coalitions, or labor unions, as a criminal offense.

Do strikes work in France?

According to one opinion poll, 46% support the strikes but other reports show 69% backing. But polls also show that 76% of French people are in favour of pension reforms. This is because the strike is more broadly viewed as protest action against the president, Emmanuel Macron and the government in general.

Why is France trying to reduce nuclear?

France derives about 70% of its electricity from nuclear energy, due to a long-standing policy based on energy security. Government policy, set under a former administration in 2014, aimed to reduce nuclear’s share of electricity generation to 50% by 2025. This target was delayed in 2019 to 2035.

Are French unions too powerful?

French trade unions are highly influential despite their feeble numbers. At just 8 percent, the number of workers who are union cardholders is one of Europe’s lowest. That compares with 19 percent in Germany, 27 percent in Britain and is even below the United States at 12 percent, OECD data shows.

Can you strike without a union France?

In the event of a strike, workers may not strike, and then they commit no misconduct, by striking without a regular union, but only if his intention was drawn by irregularity.

Is striking legal in France?

The right to strike in France is a fundamental right, meaning that it is a right proclaimed and guaranteed by the Constitution (formally, it is dedicated, in the same terms as in the Italian Constitution, by the Preamble of the 1946 Constitution, which the Preamble of the 1958 Constitution refers to).

Does France have unconditional right to strike?

Striking is a fundamental right in France which cannot be framed by employers. In the private sector, employees are not compelled to inform their employers prior to the strike but only when the strike begins (i.e. no notice period applies, except in companies in charge of public services).

Are strikes legal in France?

As a general rule, all French workers have the right to strike. The right to strike is guaranteed by the French Constitution. Although striking is an individual right, it needs to be exercised collectively by at least two employees as a means to further professional demands.

How often do strikes happen in France?

Notably, France has had a rail strike every year for 72 years, since 1947.

Does Germany buy electricity from France?

Currently, the share of electricity imports from France to Germany is with currently two terawatt hours significantly lower than 2020. On the contrary, the Czech energy imports increased by ten percent between 2020 and 2021, after it was significantly lower between 2019 and 2020.