Today is the 6th day of a rail/transport strike. And let me tell you it has been a pain in the neck for my husband who takes the train to work everyday. Often he has an 1hour 30minute commute which is doubled or tripled when there is a strike. Take a can of sardines or tuna and imagine you are in the can, that's what it feels like to be in a train when they're on strike. So pregnant women, the elderly, tourists going to the airport or babies in strollers should not attempt to take the train during the strike, because people will literally push and shove to get a spot on the train. Sometimes blocking the doors to close, people think that a 1cm spot is big enough for them! It's not a fun adventure in Paris or other cities for that matter.
This weekend to make matters worse, there were only two trains every hour going in the direction of the airport CDG and the south of Paris on RER B!!
Why are they striking ?
Over government plans to bring the SNCF rail operator and the RFF network
under the roof of one holding company, while keeping their operations
separate.They fear the proposals will hurt working conditions and want SNCF
and RFF fully merged into a single company as they were before 1997.They also want the government to take on some 40 billion euros ($54.5 billion) in debt owed by the two firms.The government says the reform is needed to create a coherent
structure for the railways as France and other European countries gear
up for full liberalisation of the railways in coming years. (france24.com)
Ok it's a good thing that these people are striking for their retirement and jobs but its not good that it is causing people like my husband to lose work time and pay due to the strike. And also according to a video that I saw, the union said they would take their time to respond to the government because the government has been taking it's time.
So the question is, how long will the strike keep going ?
