On this second day of mobilization, Saturday July 3, the strike by employees of Groupe ADP (formerly Aéroports de Paris), manager of Roissy – Charles-de-Gaulle and Orly airports, had no impact on flights, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP). Supervised by the police, the demonstrators did not disrupt air traffic, AFP noted. The day before, the protest had resulted in flight delays, with around 500 demonstrators blocking travelers at Roissy, then obstructing traffic.
Three organizations – the National Union of Autonomous Trade Unions (UNSA), the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) and the French Confederation of Framing – General Confederation of Executives (CFE-CGC) – are calling for a strike until Monday for obtain the withdrawal of an adaptation plan for employment contracts (PACT) which provides for a reduction or elimination of premiums. In case of refusal, employees risk dismissal.
Negotiations between management and unions have been suspended and are due to resume on Monday. The UNSA also filed a new strike notice for July 9.
Several strikers fined
Saturday morning, a hundred employees demonstrated peacefully in the parking lots of terminal 2E at Roissy airport, to the sound of a fanfare and closely supervised by police officers. They were waiting to be joined by another hundred demonstrators gathered elsewhere. However, several of them were fined for “Obstruction of the operation of the airport” and “Unmotivated presence at the airport”, following a prefectural decree. They were fined 135 euros. “This is the management’s means of having a social dialogue. It’s filing and intimidation, we are going to challenge ”, lambasted Yoan S., 43, including fifteen years with the ADP firefighters.
The members of the management “Make us look like the privileged. I have 1,680 euros of basic salary, so the bonuses are our salary ”, added Yoan S., who refuses to lose until “300 euros” per month. At Orly airport, a few dozen employees gathered for a general meeting.
For its part, management ensures that the PACT is necessary to save money, while the pandemic has plagued the activity of Groupe ADP, mainly owned by the State. A collective contractual termination agreement was already signed in December, providing for 1,150 employee departures in 2021, of which 700 will not be replaced.
Even if air traffic is regaining strength at Roissy and Orly with holiday departures, it remains much lower than its pre-crisis level, with 100,000 passengers per day, against 200,000 previously.