Protests against pension reforms in France, which initially affected transportation networks in Paris and Lyon, continue across the country. With the port of Marseille already crippled by a blockade, protestors blocked access to Marseille airport this morning. Sharon Gill reports ...
Protestors also blocked access to number of fuel depots across France, and while the authorities have unblocked some, the blockades affected air traffic, with a number of flights at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Paris Orly being cancelled.
The fuel depot blockades also sparked consumer panic buying, and it has been reported that up to 25% of the France's fuel outlets ran dry yesterday.
Striking rail workers halted the operations of almost 95% of cargo traffic at SNCF, the state-owned rail company.
Dockers at the Fos-Lavera oil terminal in Marseilles are on strike over a different dispute (the privatisation of stevedoring), delaying almost fifty vessels, including crude oil tankers and oil product carriers.
While the French strikes may inspire shipping lines to call at other EU ports instead, France isn't the only country with labour issues.
* A 24-hour strike in Belgium brought Eurostar trains operating between London and Brussels to a halt on Monday.
* A nationwide transportation strike in Italy that was originally planned for September 30th, now takes place today and tomorrow (October 21st and 22nd). Furthermore, Alitalia pilots plan a 24-hour strike on Monday October 25th, and a general transport strike is planned for Friday October 29th.
* In Spain, less than a month after a general strike, air traffic controllers in the Canary Islands planned to strike today despite threats of dismissal, affecting Gran Canaria, Tenerife sur Fuerteventura and La Palma airports.
* In Portugal, a general strike has been announced for November 24th.
Protestors also blocked access to number of fuel depots across France, and while the authorities have unblocked some, the blockades affected air traffic, with a number of flights at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Paris Orly being cancelled.
The fuel depot blockades also sparked consumer panic buying, and it has been reported that up to 25% of the France's fuel outlets ran dry yesterday.
Striking rail workers halted the operations of almost 95% of cargo traffic at SNCF, the state-owned rail company.
Dockers at the Fos-Lavera oil terminal in Marseilles are on strike over a different dispute (the privatisation of stevedoring), delaying almost fifty vessels, including crude oil tankers and oil product carriers.
While the French strikes may inspire shipping lines to call at other EU ports instead, France isn't the only country with labour issues.
* A 24-hour strike in Belgium brought Eurostar trains operating between London and Brussels to a halt on Monday.
* A nationwide transportation strike in Italy that was originally planned for September 30th, now takes place today and tomorrow (October 21st and 22nd). Furthermore, Alitalia pilots plan a 24-hour strike on Monday October 25th, and a general transport strike is planned for Friday October 29th.
* In Spain, less than a month after a general strike, air traffic controllers in the Canary Islands planned to strike today despite threats of dismissal, affecting Gran Canaria, Tenerife sur Fuerteventura and La Palma airports.
* In Portugal, a general strike has been announced for November 24th.