French unions deny plans to close winter sports resorts
Gary NoakesFrance’s two main ski lift unions have moved to reassure visitors about possible disruption next month.
The Foreign Office today (25 January) issued a warning of potential difficulties following widespread protests in France aimed at reversing plans to raise the pension age.
“Several unions have called for cross-sector strike action and demonstrations on Tuesday 31 January," said the FCDO. "This may lead to disruption to services.”
However, two unions, the CGT and Force Ouvriere, which represent resort workers, have said they do not wish to further damage France’s winter sports industry, which has had a bad start due to a lack of pre-Christmas snow.
In a statement to French press agency AFP, they said: “Although announced as “unlimited”, the strike notice issued on Monday for 31 January by France’s two main ski lift unions, Force Ouvrière (FO) and the CGT, does not mean that ski lift employees will not return to work the following day.”
Eric Becker, FO secretary general, told AFP: “The lifts will operate normally from the next day, we do not want to further weaken companies already in difficulty.”
Becker clarified that the aim of an ‘unlimited’ notice was to respect legal deadlines to “allow seasonal workers to take part in the next day of action against the pension reform, should it be decided for a February day".
A spokesperson for A Tout France added this meant “half-term should not be impacted at this stage”.
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