French trade unions give up on strikes in Paris airports following successful negotiations

By Nur Asena Erturk

Trade unions in France gave up on launching strikes in Paris airports after successful negotiations, according to media reports.

Trade unions, including the CGT, FO, CFDT, and Unsa, announced on July 8 that they were planning strikes in Paris airports on July 17.

The unions claimed bonuses for the entire staff, 1,000 additional recruits, and the possibility of taking annual leaves during the Olympic Games, the broadcaster France info said.

Airport employer group ADF and the unions on Tuesday found common ground and agreed on various additional bonuses comprising the workers’ efforts during the Olympics, the same source added. The unions thus decided not to launch strikes in the airports.

- CGT demonstrations

The CGT is planning demonstrations in Paris on Thursday at noon, in front of the National Assembly, the lower chamber of the French parliament.

The aim is to call for President Emmanuel Macron to take action and allow the left-wing alliance New Popular Front (NFP) to select a prime minister and govern the country.

Macron accepted Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's resignation one week later and was harshly criticized for delaying the process and causing instability in the country.

The NFP, which is expected to get the most seats in the National Assembly, started searching for a candidate to propose as prime minister.

The intense work led to a divergence of opinion, even divisions inside the NFP, which is looking for a solid name to give Macron.

The New Popular Front could win over 180 seats. The centrist alliance, Together for the Republic, backed by Macron, finished second with over 160 seats, while Marine Le Pen's RN got over 140 seats.

The National Assembly has 577 seats, and none of the three primary alliances is expected to win an absolute majority of 289 lawmakers.

The first round was held on June 30, and 76 candidates were elected without a second round.

The RN received 29.26% of the vote alone (37 seats), a figure that rises to more than 33% when combined with its allies.

The NFP got 28.06% (32 seats), followed by the centrist Together with slightly over 20.04% (two seats).

Macron dissolved the parliament and announced early elections after the RN won more than 31% of the vote in the European Parliament elections on June 9, defeating his centrist bloc.