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The prospect of strikes during the Olympic Games is a source of concern for organizers and authorities alike, given the international importance of these events. This concern stems in particular from previous industrial action in France, such as the strikes at the Eiffel Tower and the SNCF in February this year.
The Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT), one of France's leading trade unions, is planning to issue strike notices to put pressure on the government and assert workers' demands. This strategy aims to use the Olympic Games as an opportunity to draw attention to the social and economic problems facing French workers.
At SNCF, the unions have expressed their intention to carry out renewable strikes right up to the Olympic Games, with demands for better pay and improved working conditions for employees. Previous strikes, such as those by ticket inspectors in February, have already disrupted transport services and raised questions about the management of industrial disputes during the Games.
Faced with the threat of strikes, some politicians are proposing to strengthen legislation on minimum service in the transport sector. The aim is to guarantee a minimum level of service during sensitive periods such as the Olympic Games, in order to limit disruption for participants and spectators.
At the RATP, the main union, CGT-RATP, has already issued a strike notice covering the entire period of the Paralympic Games. Here too, the demands are for significant pay rises, underlining the importance of public transport workers to the success of the Olympic Games. Although the Minister of Transport has expressed confidence that a major strike can be avoided during the Games, pressure remains high on RATP management to meet workers' demands.
In the public sector, civil servants are also considering strike action to secure compensation bonuses and improved working conditions during the Games period. Unions point to the additional challenges faced by public service workers due to the influx of visitors during the Olympic Games.
Firefighters, mobilized during the Olympic events, have also filed strike notices for the Games period, highlighting similar problems of work overload and difficult working conditions. Although the firefighters of Paris and Marseille, as military personnel, are unable to strike, those of other departments where certain events will be held are likely to join the movement.
Municipal police officers, who have already gone on strike at previous events such as Christmas and New Year's Eve, could also renew their industrial action during the Olympic Games, once again demanding higher pay and better working conditions.
Perhaps most worryingly, in the healthcare sector, hospitals are anticipating an influx of tourists during the Games, which could deprive some caregivers of their leave. Doctors and nurses are demanding fair remuneration for their work during this busy period, highlighting the disparities in bonuses between different categories of hospital staff.
It remains to be seen how the authorities, organizers and unions will manage to resolve these tensions to ensure the smooth running of the Games while addressing workers' concerns.
With just a few months to go before the start of the Olympic Games, tensions remain high, and the controversies surrounding the event are not over.
