Rail strike after May 17

From what I understand about strikes in France is that they are very different from strikes in the US
Atypical union strike in the US which is more a rare event, starts and does not end with employees going back to work until the issue is settled. As part of the settlement US employees are paid for the time they were on strike typically and the union strongly discourages anyone returning to work until they all return to work.

In France from my limited knowledge things are far different. Strikes are often scheduled much more commonly but then not carried out. When they are carried out it is almost always done in parts, employees of some departments stay home 2 days and then return for 3 days. Then the next week they might plan a shutdown for another 2 days but that might only involve different departments.
So actually a full shutdown never happens, it is more disrupted then shut down on scheduled strike days.
The main reason seems to be the employees are not paid anything for time they spend striking so this on/off system allows them to more effectively strike for a longer time period.

So, no one will be able to predict if your dates and your routes will be affected. Those things would be known probably 24 hours or so in advance.

Tough for the traveler but even if a known strike day it still doesn't mean your trip will be affected by the strike or maybe it will.

Thank you! I had no idea about how things work over there! I was thinking it was all or nothing....so there is hope! :)Thanks so much for your input!!!

Try referring here for additional information and planned strike days https://en.oui.sncf/train/strike

A minimum amount of "essential service" is preserved by E.U. law. On a given route, you might end up with 20% cancelled or 80% cancelled. The international trains are usually more protected. You will be able to check the status of your scheduled train a couple of days before, but they're not making more specific pronouncements this far out, and you just happen to be on the cusp of the published details. See https://en.oui.sncf/train/strike.

For instance, If you're booked on the TGV/ICE 9572 or 9570 connecting from Stuttgart and Karlsruhe to Paris, then both trains are for sale and scheduled to run on next three strike dates, May 8, 9, and 14th.

The choices are not limited to "change dates or get a refund." You may be able change your seat reservation to a different train that's expected to run on the same day, or can use your rail pass on any French train that operates during a strike, but without guarantee of a seat.

Here's a nice easy-to-read calendar that shows the strike days planned until end of June by the rail workers' unions.

http://www.leparisien.fr/economie/greve-sncf-voici-le-calendrier-des-perturbations-16-03-2018-7611528.php

(Just remember that the calendar starts its weeks on Monday, and has Saturday and Sunday at the end of the week - LU is Monday . . . usually in the U.S. we put Sunday at the first of the week)

You should not have a problem inbound on the 18th, particularly if your train is direct.

Leaving Paris on the 28th could be problematic. You would need to provide more information about your train but it´s very unlikely it is a direct to Bologna meaning a very high likelihood of disruptions and cancellations.

I would fly from Paris to Rome.

IF you book a flight from Paris to Rome on May 28th don't book with Air France. They are still rolling out strike dates for May. We were caught with reservations on AF on an April and May strike date this year.

Our trip last month was affected, but we did manage to get where we were going- just many hours later.

We were booked on a Thalys train from Amsterdam to Lille, France in late April. We were told that the train would not be going into France and informed that we would need to get off in Antwerp, Belgium, to catch the train supposedly on track 1 or 2 to Lille. No train on either track going to Lille, so we went to the Thalys office (in Antwerp station) and booked a train to Brussels (no charge) to catch a train going to Lille. Missed that train, because ours ran late. Booked a train at Brussels station that would go from Ghent to Lille. Finally made it to Lille to rent a car.

So, yes, we lost time bopping around Brussels (Antwerp station is actually beautiful, though), but at least we weren't charged-although we did actually pay for the high speed Thalys train-and we still got there the same day. There were enough trains running to get us where we were going...eventually. It did require some patience, though. Renting a car in Antwerp would have incurred a high drop off charge in France, plus very expensive fuel and (likely) toll charges beyond what we finally did pay when we rented the car in Lille. We did miss stopping at Rouen, France, which was a small disappointment, but we got to Bayeux on the day we had intended to. Dropped the car in Vernon after Giverney and took train into Paris for 3 days. You could not pay me to drive in Paris. Lucky you to have an apt booked, how cool is that?!

Anyway, I hope our tale helps- we had actually gone to Copenhagen first in our trip also, and loved it. (Will be glad when they finish the Metro work, but still a neat place!) Oh wait, you said Aarhus. Well, we did truly like Denmark. Enjoy your trip, and pack your patience!