End to French airport strike in sight as union leaders agree deal

Eleven days after security staff went on strike at France’s main airports, unions have agreed a deal. Workers still have to vote on ending the strike but leaders of four of the five main unions said employers were now offering a settlement that one of them described as “better than nothing”. 

REUTERS

Security workers struck ten days before Christmas to press a claim for a 200 euro/month pay rise but their action failed to provoke more than minor flight delays.

This was partly due to President Nicolas Sarkozy’s decision to send soldiers and police to help non-striking security personnel frisk passengers and check baggage and prevent airport disruption over the Christmas holiday period.

Unions say employers have offered to pay an annual bonus to staff to appease their wage demands and that many of the workers themselves wanted the conflict to come to an end.

Workers in Paris and Lyons had met earlier Monday and voted to continue the strike.
They are expected to meet again on Tuesday to decide whether to back the strike-end deal.