A lull in a very dark sky.
This Sunday, the largest airport in France, Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle (Seine-et-Marne) will resume the normal program of its flights.
Since Thursday, the platform has been disrupted by a social movement launched by the employees of Aéroports de Paris (ADP) which manages the infrastructure, but also employees of subcontracting companies.
In the midst of inflationary times, they demand wage increases.
A movement which forced the general direction of the civil aviation (DGAC) to impose on the companies a reduction in the number of their flights Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
One in six flights was canceled on the first two days and one in five for Saturday alone.
Dozens of planes remained on the tarmac, and with them passengers, for safety reasons: among the strikers are indeed firefighters in charge of runway safety.
However, the regulations impose a certain number of firefighters depending on the traffic.
This Saturday, the firefighters decided to lift their notice, which allows a return to normal.
But the movement could well resume on Friday July 8 with, as a consequence, dozens of flights canceled on the occasion of this big weekend of holiday departures.
Several ADP unions have already filed a new strike notice.
“We maintain the pressure on the management which refuses to hear the employees, justifies Fabrice Michaud, general secretary of the CGT Transports and former union representative at ADP.
They are demanding 6%, the employer is only offering 4%”.
Other movements planned for the weekend of July 16
After the failure of negotiations on Friday, no new meeting was scheduled for this weekend between management and the unions.
“ADP will surely send a unilateral press release on Monday in which it will announce a salary increase below 4%, predicts a union source.
But what we are asking for is 6%, which is what we lost because of inflation”.
When questioned, ADP simply confirms the failure of the negotiations but assures that “the social dialogue remains open”.
In addition to flight cancellations, some passengers have had problems transporting their luggage.
Friday, in addition to the strike at a few baggage handlers, there was a technical problem coupled with a brief computer problem on one of the devices responsible for sorting the baggage of Air France passengers.
Results, several travelers took off without their suitcases.
“Even without a strike, the summer will be complicated in airports, believes Fabrice Michaud.
The lack of staff is estimated at 15% at the Roissy airport platform while air traffic has almost returned to its 2019 level. After the pandemic, many employees left and companies are struggling to recruit.
The working conditions and salaries are not attractive”.
At ADP,
According to the CGT, the malaise is global and does not only concern Roissy airport.
“There are also social movements on the platforms of Marseille, Bordeaux or even Clermont-Ferrand, lists Fabrice Michaud.
In Orly (Val-de-Marne) also, even if it is less visible ”.
Strikes which could extend to all trades on the Roissy platform, warns the CGT, such as car rental companies and security agents, with coordinated strike movements on the weekend of July 16.