calls for strikes are increasing in transport

While Michelin and Auchan announced large-scale social plans at the beginning of November, the government is faced with a series of calls for strikes in November and December, against a backdrop of budget cuts for 2025. Transport is the first to mobilize: in a press release published on Sunday November 10, almost all air transport unions, with the notable exception of the CGT, called for demonstrations against the government's desire to triple the solidarity tax on airline tickets plane, known as the “Chirac tax”.

The CFE-CGC, the National Union of Autonomous Unions, the National Union of Airline Pilots (SNPL) France Alpa, the Union of Civil Aviation Airmen, the National Union of Commercial Aircrew and the Feets-FO federation thus enjoin their members to “to demonstrate together, [jeudi] November 14 in Paris »before the National Assembly. The organizations oppose the government which, “as part of the 2025 finance bill and budgetary rescue measures”wants to increase tax revenue by 300% to collect 1 billion euros “only on companies operating flights in France”.

In detail, the government wants to increase taxes on plane tickets. For domestic flights in Europe, in economy class, the contribution will increase from 2.60 euros per passenger to 9.50 euros. For medium-haul connections, it will double from 7.50 euros to 15 euros per passenger. Finally, long-haul destinations will be hit the hardest with a tax which will be increased from 7.40 euros to 40 euros per passenger. The companies have already warned that they will pass on the entire increase to passengers. So, without waiting, Air France has already started to increase its prices.

The demonstration of November 14 could only be the first phase of anger among employees in the sector. Indeed, the SNPL, which represents more than 75% of pilots with a French employment contract, also called on its members to strike on Thursday November 14. This call concerns all airlines, regular or low-cost, operating in France, such as Air France, easyJet, Transavia, Vueling and Ryanair. The pilot mobilization rate looks set to be high. It should be known precisely on Tuesday, November 12, during the day. The so-called “Diard” law, of March 2012, requires all air transport employees to declare themselves on strike at least forty-eight hours before the start of the movement. The cessation of work will be twenty-four hours “for now”warns the SNPL, but “she could continue” if the government does not withdraw its project, he threatens again.

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