Demonstrations, disruptions in transport... What to expect for this May 1st?

A day marked by a "historic" mobilization: this is what the unions opposed to the pension reform hope to accomplish on May 1. A few weeks after the green light granted by the Constitutional Council to the government and the promulgation of the text in stride, the inter-union again calls on the French to take to the streets, on the occasion of Labor Day.

United, the organizations still standing against the reform still hope to put pressure on the executive, on this explosive file as on others. Sophie Binet, secretary general of the CGT thus expects a “popular tidal wave” while Laurent Berger, secretary general of the CFDT, calls for “breaking the house in number of demonstrators in the street”. Le Figaro takes stock of the mobilizations and disruptions to be expected.

Dozens of processions will set off all over France on the occasion of Labor Day. The details are already known in some cities. In Paris, the demonstration will leave from the Place de la République, at 2:30 p.m., in order to go to the Place de la Nation, via the Place de la Bastille. “Our mobilization should be identical. [...] One expects as many people as for the last inter-union ones. The goal is for them to arrive safely and for them to be as little disturbed as possible by the black blocs, who systematically try to disturb the smooth running of the demonstrations”, recently indicated the prefect of police, Laurent Nuñez, at the Parisian.

In Lille, the procession should leave from Porte des Postes at 10:30 a.m. In Rouen, the rally is scheduled for 12 p.m., at the courthouse, when that of Caen must take place at Place Saint-Pierre, at 10:30 a.m. and that of Rennes at 10 a.m., at Blosne. In Saint-Nazaire, the meeting is given at 10 a.m., place de l'Amérique Latine, and in Nantes, at Les Nefs, at 10:30 a.m. In Bordeaux, demonstrators are expected at Place de la Bourse at 10:30 a.m. In Bayonne, the parade will leave from Place Sainte-Ursule at 10:30 a.m., while that of Montpellier will start at the same time, Place Albert 1er. In Marseille, the procession will set off from the old port at 10 a.m., in Toulon, from Place de la Liberté at the same time, and in Nice, from the Albert 1er garden at 10:30 a.m. In Tours, opponents will tread the pavement from Place de la Liberté at 10 a.m., in Blois, at the prefecture at 10:30 a.m., and in Limoges, at 2 p.m., at the Tourny crossroads.

The CGT also specifies in a press release that “union leaders from all over the world will be present to show their solidarity with our mobilization”. The inter-union hopes to stem the fall in the number of demonstrators, observed for a few weeks. After peaking on March 23, the number of people pounding the pavement fell, reaching 380,000 on April 13, according to law enforcement, the second lowest figure since mid-January.

Should we expect difficulties on the rails again? In a press release, the inter-union of railway workers calls on employees "to join the demonstrations throughout the territory". For the time being, however, no disruption is expected on the side of the SNCF.

In the sky, the inter-union of the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) wishes "an exceptional day of mobilization". Strong difficulties are expected: a third of flights will be canceled at Paris-Orly, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Nantes and Toulouse. At the same time, 25% of flights will be canceled at Paris Charles-de-Gaulle, Nice and Beauvais. “Despite these preventive measures, disruptions and delays” are to be expected, specifies the administration.

On the roads, May 1st is classified green at the national level by Bison smart but traffic may be difficult in Île-de-France in the direction of returns. “Difficulties should be recorded from the start of the afternoon and could continue until late in the evening, in particular on the A10, A6 and A13 motorways, especially if there is good weather”, specifies Bison Futé.

Engaged for a long time in the fight against pension reform, the unions in the energy sector could again want to make an impression. “We must bear in mind that our social history and our historical mobilization carry us to victory”, wants to believe the FNME-CGT, in a press release.

The union organization has also committed to "100 days of action and anger", in reference to Emmanuel Macron's 100 days of appeasement. After May 1, the FNME-CGT will organize a national day of anger in energy on May 3. Power cuts and “energy disruptions” are to be expected, especially during executive travel. Some events could also end up in the dark, such as the Cannes Film Festival, the Monaco Grand Prix, the Roland-Garros tournament or the Avignon Festival.