November unpleasantries.

[cybee]

I just read (on IHT.com (international herald tribune)):

Rail workers go on strike here Nov. 13. Gas and electricity workers at the national public utilities join them the next day. Paris subway personnel will most likely go into the streets with them. On Nov. 20, it is the turn of civil servants, teachers and students, and perhaps postal workers. And on Nov. 29, employees of the French justice system are scheduled to demonstrate.

I suppose we have already discussed this on some thread but I could not find it...nontheless..I hope this does not disrupt plans, etc....!? Are they each taking a day and that is that or will this be ongoing? Hmmm

[suzanne]

This is the first time in several years we will not be in Paris during Thanksgiving week. I was feeling sad about that until I saw this. Now I'm really glad we are going in January. Of course there could be a strike then too. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

I wonder why they don't plan these strikes for the summer months when they would be even more disruptive. Maybe they do.

Guess you have to roll with the punches.

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Don't be silly, Suzanne -- in the summer, all the potential strikers are on vacation!

[annettecinca]

Anne had been keeping us posted on this on another thread before her trip last weekend, but I haven't heard any updates in a few days. I'm hoping the various strikes don't last too long, as we arrive on the 24th. I'm researching as many different metro and train alternatives as I can just in case! Let's see...there are taxi's, the Air France bus, l'Open Tour bus, Batobus, Velib...what am I forgetting? Will the regular buses be down if the metro is on strike?

[Anne]

The thread is on "General Board" .
There are no updates so far : the RATP unions have not decided yet whether they will join the SNCF strike . They will decide this week, and I will post about it as soon as I know anything . And yes Annette, the regular buses belong to the RATP, so if the metro is on strike, buses will be too .
As far as the length of the strike is concerned, someone asked this question to the ticket controller in our TGV last Sunday . As an answer, he boasted that he expected to stay at home till the end of the month at least . He seemed to find this sooo funny, I just felt like slapping him . Hubby commutes by train to Luxembourg every day .

[annettecinca]

Thanks Anne, that's what I thought. Sorry your family will be effected by this as well. Hope it doesn't last long