French dockers to strike Friday

French dockers are preparing to strike on Friday to protest against the government's budget measures, which they claim undermine their solidarity systems. The strike is expected to bring major ports to a near standstill.

Union represents majority of workers

The Fédération nationale des ports et docks CGT, representing nearly 90% of the sector's employees, has called for a 24-hour strike. The union represents 95% of dockers and 87.5% of all port handling workers in France.

Most ports to halt operations

Jean-Frédéric Laurent, the general delegate of the Union des ports de France, confirmed that most terminals in France will not operate for 24 hours on Friday. These ports handled 330 million tons of goods in 2025, or 7 to 8% of the European total.

Strikes affect 14,000 workers

Approximately 14,000 port workers, including 7,500 dockers, are affected by the strike in cities such as Dunkerque, Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Le Havre, Rouen, Paris, Cherbourg, and others across France.

Union criticizes budget measures

The dockers' union challenges measures in the French government's budget proposal, which it says "destroy our solidarity systems." They are demanding an increase in the minimum wage and wage increases rather than non-contributed bonuses.

Strike joins broader labor movement

The strike is part of a larger national strike call on November 5, launched by the CGT and other major trade unions. Workers are mobilizing to defend the youth, public education, social security, hospitals, and retirees.

Strike has international roots

The strike was initially launched in an European context by the European Dockworkers Council (EDC), with support from dockers' federations in Turkey and India. Representatives from 35 European ports signed a joint declaration in Istanbul to oppose the militarization of transport infrastructure.

European unions oppose military transit rules

European unions are opposing a proposed regulation to promote "military mobility" by facilitating the transit of defense equipment through civilian transport infrastructure. They argue that ports and transport networks are being transformed into war infrastructure.