French government calls for Air France strike to end as 60 per cent of flights cancelled
The French government weighed into the Air France pilots’ strike on its third day, Wednesday, with Prime Minister Manuel Valls and Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron calling for an end to the dispute. The company said it was taking action to close an “anti-scab” Facebook page.
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As on Tuesday, 60 per cent of Air France flights were expected to be cancelled on Wednesday, as talks dragged on but no agreement was reached.
Macron and Valls both called for it to end on Wednesday morning, although Macron seemed put the onus on management to come up with new proposals, while Valls appeared to be putting pressure on the unions.
The company should “find some concessions”, Macron told Europe 1 radio, while adding that “it can’t be accepted that a country should be blocked” and that “the strike must end”.
On France Inter radio Valls called for both sides to get around the negotiating table, declaring that the strike must end because it “badly damages Air France, damages its finances too and damages the attractiveness and image of our country”.
Air France-KLM boss Alexandre de Juniac insisted that he had made some “reasonable proposals” but had not seen any hint of change in the unions’ stance.
Juniac also thanked pilots who have not joined the strike.
The company earlier announced it was taking legal action against an “Anti-scab” Facebook page that gives the names of pilots working through the industrial action.
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