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DELIVERIES to supermarkets in the weeks leading up to Christmas could be hit by an indefinite strike by lorry drivers.

About half a million drivers belonging to five trade unions are planning to stop work at 21.30 on December 13 to protest over pay.

They are planning to block access to supermarket and hypermarket depots to prevent food getting on to the shelves in time for the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Auchan and Carrefour are likely to be the most targeted.

The head of the CGT-Transport union, Richard Jaubert, said no decision had been taken yet about whether to block access to fuel depots as well.

According to the unions, lorry driver salaries have not risen in two years - €1,300 gross per month for new recruits.

They want at least €10 an hour, a 13th month of pay each year and standard health cover for all.

Commerce minister Hervé Novelli said disrupting shops' distribution networks so close to Christmas was "intolerable" in the current economic climate.

Source The Connexion

Fears Of Food Shortage Due To Drivers Strike

French supermarkets could face some empty shelves in the run-up to Christmas, due to a potential strike by lorry drivers across the country. Local reports said drivers from five separate unions plan to stop work from 13 December, as they look for increased pay.

The strike will aim to block access to supermarket and hypermarket depots, and perhaps also fuel depots, and is likely to target chains such as Auchan and Carrefour.

The French Commerce Minister Hervé Novelli said that such as move would be "intolerable" in the current economic climate.

Source Kamcity

France Steps In to Truck Labor Negotiations


Government bids to head off nationwide strike with compromise proposal

The French government intervened in contract negotiations between truck drivers and their employers,in a bid to head off a nationwide trucking strike next week that threatens to paralyze the nation's transport system.

Labor unions have called for an all out stoppage by 610,000 drivers for an indefinite period starting Sunday, Dec. 13, unless trucking companies increase wages and expense allowances.

A strike would have a major impact on the French economy as trucks account for a large and rising share of the national transport market, including the movement of containers to and from ports.

The five trucking unions warn they will block access routes to major companies and industrial zones.

Unions claim truckers' wages have been frozen for two years while costs have risen. The trucking companies say they can't afford to increase wages because cargo volumes have fallen during the recession.

The government has proposed raising the lowest salaries by four percent and medium wages by three percent.

This falls short of the unions' demands for a four percent hike for all drivers and a three percent increase in expenses as well as an industry wide agreement on health insurance.

Source Journal of Commerce

They voted for a 35 hour week, now they strike as they are only paid for 35 hours , what do they expect to be paid for 48 hours.

They are French

The strike has been called off,but the word is the farmers might do some sort of protest on Monday over milk prices.