French port workers start two-day strike: what impact on travellers?

UNIONS CLAIM GOVERNMENT IS WITHHOLDING INFORMATION ON ASBESTOS STUDY A two-day strike by port workers in France is taking place today and Friday (January 30/31), which will halt economic

activity at a number of ports, mostly in the north and west of France. Ferry services may be affected although currently most routes between the UK and France are running as scheduled. The

main stevedore union and the dockworker wing of the wider CGT group called for the strike, which was originally set for early February before being moved last week. Unions claim the

government has not released information from a survey on asbestos levels in ports.  They also cited a determination to continue fighting against the controversial 2023 pension reforms.

Further action is expected in February. Currently, ten four-hour walkouts are scheduled during the month, following three mini-walkouts of the same length this month.  Read more: Strikes in

France in January 2025 and how you may be impacted CHECK FERRY ROUTES IN ADVANCE  If you are travelling via ferry over the next two days, you should check with your operator to see if your

route has been affected. Several ferries run by Brittany Ferries have been cancelled although it is not stated that this is due to strike action.  Routes from DFDS between the UK and France

are unaffected, the company states on its social media page. This is also the case for P&O Ferries.  Irish Ferries between Dover and Calais are currently facing minimal delays. Read

more: Dozens of new flight and ferry routes for France in 2025 SUPPLY CHAINS ‘PARALYSED’ BY STRIKE The main impact of the strike will be economic, with supply chains across France

threatened.  “These industrial actions, which follow on from numerous strikes in recent months, is causing legitimate exasperation in an economic climate that is already extremely tense for

road haulage companies,” said the Fédération nationale des transports routiers (Road transport union).  “The disruptions are paralysing the supply and distribution of goods and having

disastrous consequences for road haulage companies,”  Dockworker unions say discussions over an asbestos survey of 11 French ports thought to have high levels of the mineral have broken

down, with the Transport Ministry allegedly closing doors on negotiations that began at the end of 2024.  “The results of the asbestos analyses carried out in 2021 and 2022 in eleven ports

have still not been published. We know that there is asbestos, both in the infrastructure and in the holds of ships,” said the union (quoted in French media Actu). The unions will hold

internal meetings on February 3 to discuss further action.