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TRAVEL NEWS

What to expect from strike action in France during the February school holidays

Several French unions have filed strike notices for February, with some aiming to target to busy February holiday period - here's what you can expect.

Published: 25 January 2023 15:13 CET
Updated: 9 February 2023 13:10 CET
What to expect from strike action in France during the February school holidays
A demonstrator holds a placard during a rally called by French trade unions in Lille, northern France (Photo by Sameer Al-Doumy / AFP)

France is in the grip of a major confrontation between unions and the government over plans to reform the pension system.

So far, the main actions have been concentrated on one-day strikes that are supported by all eight of the union federations, however an increasing number of unions are filing notices for renewable or unlimited strikes, with some targeting the February holidays.

The French minister of tourism, Olivia Gregoire, called on unions to respect the “sacred period” of school holidays (which in France run from February 4th to March 6th, depending on which zone you are in).

Meanwhile, Philippe Martinez, the head of the hardline CGT union, told RTL that if the government remains stubborn then “there is a possibility of days of action during the school vacations”.

As a result, it is likely that further notices will be filed. The Local will update this story with the latest – but here’s what we know so far.

February actions

February 16th – the fifth day of widespread strike action, which will likely see widespread disruption on public services, as well as demos in towns and cities across France. This action is supported by all eight French union federations. After this date, unions have also called for further actions in March, specifically on Tuesday, March 7th (which is after French school holidays will have concluded).

February 14th – not actually related to the pension plans – this is a separate dispute over pay and investment – but GPs will walk out on Tuesday, February 14th, leading to many surgeries closing completely. 

February 11th – France’s largest trade unions have issued a joint statement calling for mobilisation on Saturday, the 11th.

This will coincide with the second weekend of school holidays for French students in Zone A, and the first weekend for students in Zone B. 

However, according to reporting by AFP, Saturday’s day of action will not involve a strike on French national rail services – meaning trains operated by SNCF are expected to run normally on the 11th.

Trains – two rail unions – the hardline Sud-Rail and CGT-Cheminots – have filed a renewable strike notice for “mid-February” in addition to a two-day strike which is to take place on Tuesday, February 7th, and Wednesday, and 8th. 

READ MORE: Calendar: The French pension strike dates to remember

Ski resorts – two of the largest unions representing French ski lift operators and seasonal workers, FO (Force ouvrière) and the CGT, have filed “unlimited” strike notices starting on January 31st – the same day that unions across other sectors have called for another ‘mass strike’.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that the strike will continue throughout February, but unions say they want to put pressure on the government to discuss both pensions and changes to benefits for seasonal workers, which particularly affect ski industry employees.

The CGT union in particular has threatened further actions during the Ski World Championships, held in Courchevel from February 6th to February 19th. Strikes in ski resorts usually primarily affect the operation of ski lifts. You can read more here.

Oil refinery workers – refinery workers have threatened to renew strike action if needed. Most recently, oil refinery workers walked out for a period of 72 hours that began on February 6th. 

READ MORE: Reader question: Will pension strikes affect fuel supplies in France?

Power cuts – the hardline CGT have also threatened more “direct action” with employees of the State electricity sector threatening to cut the power to certain towns. This isn’t a scheduled action (or indeed a legal one, the government has promised to prosecute workers who do this) but short targeted power cuts could continue into February.

We will update this story as more details are released, and you can also find all the latest in our strike section HERE.

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For members

LEARNING FRENCH

Vocab guide for the French property tax declaration

With the deadline to have completed the property tax declaration approaching, here's a look at all the vocabulary you will need to fill out the form.

Published: 19 April 2024 11:37 CEST
Vocab guide for the French property tax declaration

The property tax declaration must be completed by everyone who owns property in France – including second-home owners who live in another country.

You can find our guide to registering and filing your declaration HERE.

The form can be filled in either online or on paper and, naturally, it is in French – in fact it’s in the special kind of bureaucratic French reserved for admin tasks.

Here’s a look at how to translate it;

Personal details

It begins with asking for personal details from the property owner. If the property is owned jointly by two or more people, only one person needs to do the declaration, but you will need to list all the people who use it (more on that later).

Nom de naissance – this is your surname (family name) as it appears on official documents like a passport

Nom d’usage – this is the surname that you are known by. The reason that it’s on the form is that in France women do not officially change their names when they marry and documents like their passport or driving licence remain in their maiden names. However, they may be known in everyday life by their husband’s surname – for example the president’s wife is widely known as Brigitte Macron, but her passport will say Brigitte Trogneux (her maiden name).

For most people; their nom de naissance and nom d’usage will be the same. Correspondence will be addressed to you by your nom d’usage.

Prénom(s) – first names – if you have any middle names, include them.

Date de naissance – date of birth (in the format day/month/year)

Lieu de naissance – place of birth. This should be listed as it appears on your passport

Numéro fiscal – tax number. If you have previously paid property tax bills this number will be on the bill. If you have not yet received a bill and don’t have a tax number for any other tax tasks (eg the annual income tax declaration) the first thing that you need to do is request a numéro fiscal – full details on how to do that HERE.

Votre adresse de domiciliation – the address that you live at. For foreign second-home owners, this will be their address outside France, not the address of the French property.

N° – house number

Voie – street name

Complément d’adresse – any extra lines of the address, if applicable 

Code postal – postcode/ZIP code

Ville – town

Pays – country

Votre téléphone – phone number. If it is a non-French number, remember to include the country code 

Votre adresse courriel – email address

Si vous avez conservé l’usage de votre résidence principale et que vous êtes hébergé(e) dans un
établissement d’hébergement pour personnes âgées dépendantes (EHPAD), veuillez cocher la case – this probably won’t apply to many people but if you have moved into a care home or nursing home but are keeping your property as a main residence, tick this box.

Property details

The next section is about the French property that you are declaring

Cette déclaration concerne ma résidence principale – this declaration concerns my main residence (tick yes or no). This bit is important because it will determine which property taxes you pay. A property is your ‘main residence’ if you live there most of the time – for other uses (second home, holiday home, rented out property), tick ‘no’.

La nature de votre bien – Maison/Appartement – is your property a house or an apartment

Superficie – size in metres squared (this should be included in your property deeds)

Étage – number of floors

Porte – number of doors

Tick any of these that appy; Cave – cellar, Garage – garage, Parking – dedicated parking space (this doesn’t include a driveway, it’s more for city dwellers whose apartment may have a separate parking area), Piscine – pool 

Si vous possédez d’autres biens à une adresse différente, veuillez remplir une nouvelle déclaration
d’occupation – if you own more than one French property, you do a separate declaration for each one

Précisez l’adresse de votre logement (ou bien) concerné par la déclaration si elle est différente de votre
adresse principale – address of the property being declared, if different from your main residence. For second home owners, this is where you put the address of the French property. The format is as described above.

Property use

The next section is asking you what the property is used for.

Vous avez la jouissance de ce bien – you have the use of this property. You tick this if it is your main home, but also if it is a second home or holiday home. 

Vous occupez personnellement le bien depuis le – you have occupied the property since [date]. This date is the purchase date. This applies to second-home owners too, if you don’t rent out your property then you are the ‘occupier’, even if you are not always there.

Si vous occupez ce logement avec un conjoint ou un des indivisaires, veuillez préciser leur identité (ne pas déclarer les enfants mineurs) – identity of anyone that you share the property with. This would include your spouse or partner for couples who own property together, or any other co-owners or people who live with you as long-term tenants. You only need to include your children on this if they are over the age of 18.

Votre bien est occupé par une ou plusieurs personne(s) autres que vous-même – the property is occupied by someone other than yourself. You tick this if the property is rented out to someone else or someone else uses it as their main residence (even if they don’t pay rent). In this case you will be asked for their details plus the start date of their tenancy.

You will also be asked if the tenant is a personne physique or a personne morale – this has nothing to do with their physical appearance or morals, it’s whether your tenant is a private individual or a business or organisation.

Votre bien fait l’objet d’une location saisonnière ou de courte durée (contrat de location d ’un
meublé inférieur à 6 mois) [ne pas compléter l’identité des occupants] – your property is rented on a short-term or seasonal basis (contracts of less than six months) – this is what you tick if your property is rented out as a holiday home on a regular basis

Votre bien est vacant (il n’est pas occupé et vide de meuble) depuis le [date] – your property is vacant. This doesn’t apply to second homes, even if they are empty for a significant part of the year. In order to be classed as a ‘vacant’ property, it must be unoccupied and empty of all furniture. This usually applies to rental properties that are between tenants.

Je déclare ne pas avoir d’accès à internet – if you’re declaring on paper you will see this as the bottom next to the space for your signature. This is because the paper declaration is supposed to be available only to people who cannot file online, due to a lack of internet access. 

Don’t forget to sign and date your declaration before sending it back, if you are declaring on paper.

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