A standoff between trade unionists and the French government is threatening to disrupt the Euro 2016 football tournament.
ADVERTISEMENTA standoff between trade unionists and the French government is threatening to disrupt the Euro 2016 football tournament.
Anger over a controversial labour reform bill has produced weeks of industrial action with no sign of any acceptable compromise on either side.
It's all still kicking off in France, but not in the way you might think https://t.co/s2s11Plxrk
— The Canary (@TheCanarySays) June 6, 2016
Rail strikes are continuing, Air France are planning their own walkout this weekend and stoppages now extend to refuse collections.
“We will paralyse the country …if we don’t get the law withdrawn,” said on rail worker
Millions of foreign visitors and football fans are due to arrive for the month-long tournament which kicks off on Friday.
Organisers of the football feste, the biggest sporting event this year, second only to the Olympics, are concerned.
Jacques Lambert, President of Euro 2016 Organising Committee said when asked about the strikes:
“About the development of the strikes, we don’t have any more information than you. It’s an issue that unfortunately we can’t control. We of course would like mobility to be as fluid as possible.”
Even so, the football teams have been arriving this week – Spain, the current European Champions are the latest. Training and tactics may be their main priority, but if the strikes paralyse French transport, there’ll be no one to see them play.