Between all those arriving for the Olympic Games and all those looking for a vacation getaway, the threat of strikes at airports is very bad news indeed. At the height of the summer season, the Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle and Orly airports record a daily influx of some 350,000 passengers, and this year the arrival of the Olympic Games has seen the implementation of a whole range of measures. The unions have issued an ultimatum: without a response from management by July 5, they will file a strike notice, potentially disruptive just one month before the start of the Olympic Games.
The demands of the unions, including the CGT, CFDT, FO and UNSA, are clear: they are asking for additional resources to manage the expected increase in air traffic and the organization of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The unions are also calling for uniform and equitable bonuses for all agents during this period, denouncing measures deemed discriminatory.
The ADP Group, which manages the Paris airports, does not anticipate a significant increase in passenger numbers during the Games. However, specific measures have been put in place to welcome the athletes, including dedicated routes and temporary infrastructures. Despite these preparations, the unions insist on the need for an adapted hiring plan for each category of personnel, claiming a shortfall of almost 1,000 positions.
Tensions are nothing new. Last May, a first attempt at a strike did not cause any major disruption. However, with the Olympic Games in sight, the unions are hoping that their movement will have a more significant impact, and obtain a favorable response from management.
The ADP employees' demands are part of a wider context of mobilizations in the public sectors in the run-up to the Olympic Games. Activity bonuses have already been granted to RATP and SNCF employees, following successful mobilizations. The ADP unions are hoping to achieve similar results, underlining the deterioration in working conditions and the need to guarantee vacation entitlements throughout the year.
ADP management has yet to react officially to this ultimatum. The CEO, Augustin de Romanet, is currently in charge of his own interim management, the government having refused to grant him a third mandate. The stakes are high, as the eyes of the world turn to Paris for the next Olympic Games.
The tug-of-war between the unions and ADP management is thus intensifying, and the next few days will be decisive for the future of this mobilization. Without a rapid agreement, passengers and athletes are likely to face major disruptions from the beginning of July.
