(Updated with forecast for Sunday)
PARIS, July 2 (Reuters) – The strike movement by airport staff continued on Saturday, leading to the cancellation of many flights at Roissy-Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport and disrupting the departures of many travelers.
Employees of the ADP ADP.PA group (formerly Paris airport) on Friday refused their management’s proposals to increase wages by 4% in return for the lifting of the strike notice which covered the period from June 30 to July 3 .
They are calling for general salary increases of 6% and the abolition of the measures put in place during the health crisis which cut the salaries of some employees by 5% per year over three years, according to the CGT.
The trade unions have filed a new strike notice for the period from July 8 to 10.
“The majority of employees consider the proposals insufficient. They no longer have confidence in the management and do not accept the blackmail of: ‘it’s that or nothing'”, Daniel Bertone, CGT delegate, told Reuters.
The General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) had asked airlines operating at Roissy-Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport to cancel one flight in five, Saturday between 07:00 and 14:00, on the third day of the strike. The day before, one in six flights was canceled on the same time slot.
Air France AIRF.PA operates all of its long-haul flights on Saturday and 90% of its short and medium-haul flights, according to management.
On the other hand, no flight cancellations are expected for Sunday, the last day covered by the strike notice, says the DGAC, which explains that according to the information provided by Groupe ADP, the rescue and fire-fighting personnel of the aircraft (SSLIA) would be, this time, in sufficient number to open all the runways at Roissy-Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport.
Force Ouvrière nevertheless specifies that this staff has every intention of going on strike next weekend if the management does not give them satisfaction in terms of wages, suggesting further disruptions in traffic.
Management has canceled a meeting that was to take place with the unions on Friday. The latter asked the government to intercede on their behalf.
“Refusing to negotiate is again a provocation. Only the management is guilty of the continuation of the strike and the calls for the strike next weekend”, can we read in a press release Force Ouvrière.
The local Union CGT Roissy, which represents the employees of subcontracting companies operating at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle, for its part, announced the continuation of the strike movement from July 13 to 17 and intends to organize a rally on July 13. A first mobilization was held on June 9, followed by another on Friday. nL8N2YI2VS
(Caroline Pailliez)