After Black Thursday on January 19, when industrial action caused major problems in France, the last day of January promises more misery for commuters and parents.

A strike coordinating committee apparently commanded by the communist-inclined CGT called on Sunday for “the entire population to mobilise even more massively,”” and went on to say: “We are on track to be more numerous.”

Once again, transport is in the unions’ crosshairs. In a statement on Sunday, rail operator SNCF said that passengers should prepare themselves for a very difficult day – une journée très fortement perturbée.

On average one TGV train in three will operate, while the TER services one in five trains are likely to run. Needless to say, this will make the daily commute to Monaco rather problematic. However, to its credit on badly-affected strike days SNCF does try to concentrate the services that do run early in the morning and in late afternoon.

As was the case on January 19, flights are likely to be less seriously disrupted than the trains, and Paris will be the epicentre of delays and cancellations.

Taking into account the different estimates of unions and educational authorities, more than half of teachers are likely to be absent on Tuesday and some classes and schools will be closed. In the case of the educational sector, it is almost impossible to know beforehand how many ‘profs’ will be absent from class.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Borne said on Saturday that the raising of the retirement age to 64 was non-negotiable.

FILE PHOTO: A teacher sticks signs with the slogan “pensions: no at age 64” on a placard in front of the High School Bristol in Cannes, ahead of a nationwide day of strike and protests in key sectors like energy, public transport, air travel and schools against the pension reform in France, January 17, 2023. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard