French flight disruption likely as air traffic controllers join strike

Flights to and from major French cities are likely to be disrupted on Tuesday as trade unions have called a strike against President Francois Hollande's proposal to cut payroll taxes for businesses.

Passengers check flight information board at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport Reuters

The country's DGAC civil aviation authority said airlines were reducing their flights into and out of Paris airports by 30 percent and those to and from the cities of Lyon, Marseille, Nice and Toulouse by 20 percent.

"Disruptions are expected throughout France," the DGAC said in a statement, pointing out that unions representing air traffic controllers had asked their members to go on strike as part of a wider call for all public sector employees to stop work.

The cuts to payroll taxes are part of what Hollande calls the “Responsibility Pact”.

When announcing the pact on New Year’s Eve, the French president declared that the business community would be expected to create jobs in return for the cut to payroll taxes.

Many business people point out that they cannot create jobs on demand, but only when their order books look healthier.

Trade unions condemn the pact, saying it is a “gift” to businesspeople, who will simply pocket the savings made from payroll tax cuts.

They are also worried that the 50 billion euros in spending cuts necessary after the loss in government revenue following payroll tax reductions, will negatively impact on the public sector.

The details of the pact have yet to be agreed by business representatives, trade unions and the government.