The France Rail Strike

Strikes don't happen much so far as most people's day to day life is concerned. But when they do, they can be annoying. I can see it is tedious for us tourists, but in the end the right to strike is more important than our "right" not to be inconvenienced. Ultimately, without that strike right, the evil corporate capitalists and obsessive state powers would be even more in control of our freedom than they already are.

Highlanderct, you may have led a charmed life to not have been "inconvenienced" by strike actions.

I know I've lead a charmed life not to be inconvenienced by strike actions and I'd like to continue to do so when in France as much as possible. Are the strikes mostly seasonal (spring/summer) when it will have the most impact on travelers or do they happen throughout the year?

Laura I guess so. I've been lucky and hope that continues. You know when you only have two weeks of vacation and to have any one of those precious days changed because of a strike is sad. Selfish thoughts I know but not from the travelers perspective.

Nance. I don't know about the timing. I do know my dad went to Belgium for work when I was young in February. He said that one day a large group of employees took a day off for religious reasons. The rest said if they can have a day so can we so they striked for one day. 😀 Such a different mindset from my own. Again to all I'm not passing negative judgements in case you were thinking that.

Laura B- Im not really understanding your “charmed life” comment- can you clarify???

First I want to say that I appreciate your sensitivity and not wanting to pass judgement.
However, the words two-weeks vacation says it all, which is unheard of anywhere in Europe.

In this country we may not be inconvenienced but we are conditioned to lack of time off and think it’s normal to live with stress, worries, no pension plan, no paid maternity or eldercare leave, medicalcare caused bankruptcies, home repossession, etc. We’re taught that it’s personal responsibility, while in Europe the word solidarity still dominates.
These strikes are about not ending up as victimes in the free market. I’m shocked by the condition of too many of my neighbors who have slid from working class to poverty. Their disasterous condition makes others grateful to have a two-weeks paid vacation.

To respond to Demi Hale -- I can remember being "inconvenienced" by multiple grocery store strikes as well as transit strikes (particularly BART in the SF area, causing massive backups on bridges and freeways) so someone not having ever experienced strike activities is surprising. Not a judgement, just a comment.