Protests and strikes have become contagious among the countries of Europe. After France and Britain, Germany was on a date with a new movement, which media in Berlin described as possibly the largest in Germany, as workers in the transport sector organized a massive strike, in an escalating step to put pressure on the government. In order to increase salaries to cope with inflation, which is witnessed by the largest economy in Europe.
“Retirement” is a setback for France
A week of confusion in public services in many European countries, in light of calls by trade unions to strike; In France, against the background of the rejection of the retirement reform law, the General Administration of Civil Aviation asked companies to cancel 20% of their flights at a number of airports. Including Paris and Marseille airports, due to the strike of air traffic controllers, and the strikes continued to harm operations, production activities, oil refineries and French ports, which made France withdraw millions of barrels of oil products from its strategic stocks, while workers continued their strikes.
The trade union movement began against amending the retirement system. proposed by the government of French President Emmanuel Macron, by imposing a gradual increase in the retirement age from 62 to 64 years by three months annually, starting from the first of September 2023, and it also provides for an increase in the period of required social security contributions from 42 to 43 years, in order for the retiree to obtain a His full retirement pension, that is, without any deductions.
Britain is facing inflation
The British Public and Commercial Services Union announced that more than 3,000 civil servants at the level of four government departments will strike, starting from the 11th of April; Objection to low wages, and the move will include parties including; The Ministry of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to demand that the employees of the British government hold fruitful talks, and give them a decent increase in wages.
The sit-ins to protest against the high cost of living last November began to gradually escalate, leading to the largest labor strike in 10 years in Britain at the beginning of February 2023, when more than half a million Britons refrained from going to work in protest of low wages. Seven labor unions participated in the protests, the most prominent of which was the adjustment of wages to match global price inflation.
The biggest in decades baffles Germany
Germany suffered major paralysis in all sectors of life after strikes described as the largest in decades, confusing millions of people at the beginning of the working week.
The strikes came at a time when Germany, Europe's largest economy, is suffering from inflation.
Flights were canceled in most of Germany's airports, two of the largest airports in Germany, Munich and Frankfurt, suspended flights, while rail services operator Deutsche Bahn canceled long-distance flights. Strikers wearing red vests honked horns and whistles at an empty train station in Munich, DW reported.
The EVG union for railway workers in Germany announced that more than 30,000 Deutsche Bahn workers are taking part in the major strike of transport workers in Germany.
Airports witnessed partial strikes by workers demanding better wages, which caused the cancellation and postponement of thousands of flights last month, and four German airports witnessed the cancellation or postponement of more than 680 flights due to the entry of workers into a new strike, and the German Service Workers Union (Verdi) called for these strikes. In light of the continued failure of negotiations over the wages of aviation security workers and the continuation of the dispute over wages in the public sector.
Massive protest movements
In Belgium, more than 12,000 public sector workers demonstrated in Brussels last February, calling for filling the workforce deficit, as well as demonstrations last October; Thousands gathered at Brussels Station to protest against rising fares, as well as union demands for more purchasing power in the public sector, and to push for higher wages and better working conditions.
As for Spain, 160 air traffic controllers went on strike last February, to demand that the government increase the consumer price index and remove 12 to 15% of wage cuts, in addition to thousands of health workers demonstrating in the capital, Madrid; They protested against the lack of staff and supplies, raising the slogan "Health is not sold." After the country witnessed its first major protest since the start of the cost of living crisis in November, thousands of Spaniards rallied in Madrid to demand higher wages.
In Portugal, tens of thousands of public sector education employees marched to demand higher wages and better working conditions.
On the other hand, it is noted that European governments stand helpless in the face of the protesters' demands due to the successive economic crises.
Natural gas decline
European natural gas prices fell during last week's trading as investors await the development of the ongoing strikes in France, which disrupt the country's energy infrastructure.
And (Alpha Energy) energy consultancy indicated, in a report, that gas prices were traded near the level of 40 euros, and with the possibility of an end to the turmoil of the liquefied natural gas sector in France, it is unlikely that the markets will witness a significant change in prices. Dutch natural gas futures for April delivery – the European gas standard – fell 1.10% at 42.06 euros per megawatt.
Fahad Saleh (Jeddah) @fahadoof_s