I take it you work in the tourim industry yourself then, Jane?
I agree it's bad timing and it's looking like a bad season for tourism all round and I do sympathise. But tourism always has ups and downs, it's always been at the mercy of so many factors outside its control - air strikes, the exchange rate, politics - and the good thing is that it wipes the slate clean each year. Next year, assuming the unrest is over and the terrorist threat has faded, people will think, "We didn't go to France last year so let's go there this year".
Josephine, in your dreams. People try somewhere new and then like it!
We have a gite which is almost completely full for this summer and into autumn. However, most of these people have only paid their deposits and it remains to be seen what will happen if this strike continues.
Re the timing - it's no accident this is happening right now - it is very specifically coordinated with the impending Euro 2016 football tournament, in order to force government action so that things smooth out before the tournament starts...
And the first match is June 10th.
http://www.lepopulaire.fr/limousin/actualite/2016/05/26/carburant-comment-le-limousin-est-il-approvisionne_11930910.html
I would be concerned, but the ball is the wrong shape.
mannaged to get the bike filled up today, local u had diesel and the intermarche over the road had everything, finished work at 8 just around the corner from them, then spent a nice 1.5 hours queing, for 11 litres of petrol, oh how i wish i had a bigger fuel tank, was tempted to take the other bike back into town to fill that too so i have a backup if i cant get anymore, but then i oppened the fridge and saw the beer, oh well, i'm sure it will be fine
I don't agree with the strikes but I understand why the people are so annoyed - it's not necessarily the content of the law which has annoyed many (as it doesn't affect a lot of people e.g. self employed) its the fact the govt have not put it through the parliamentary process. They've forced it through using a bit of exceptional legislation, that is what people seem to be most up in arms about round my way. Of course some are in favour of the strikes to support getting rid of El Khomri law but a lot are more annoyed about the way the govt have gone about pushing it through even though it won't affect them.
My local garage was out of diesel but I managed to get 30 euro of diesel + so I'm ok. I just hope flights are ok tomorrow.
I have lived in France for 36 years now,and I have to agree with Catharines comment regarding sick leave. I've always been amazed how people can just pop in to see their doctor and come away with an "arret maladie" after almost any major clash with their employer. It was rife when I first arrived to work here in the 1980's, and things have not changed. The son of a friend of mine was recently deprived of his driving licence after a breathalyser test after an evening out. He drives heavy goods vehicles for a living,so would have lost his job. He saw his doctor,explained the situation,and came away diagnosed with 'burn out' and 3 months sick leave....
For the longer term, it may be worth considering what will happen to tourism if the French Gov't gets a taste for using 49.3 whenever convenient. Will tourists wish to continue to come to a country increasingly ruled by dictat, especially given that the extensions to the State of Emergency have already suspended many aspects of the rule of law to which we are normally accustomed. The use of 49.3 is a deliberate circumvention of the democratic process, and therefore it is no wonder that so many people are choosing to demonstrate their opposition to such a method of government.
Like people don't do just the same in the UK - "stress" is the favourite there. I knew a teacher who used to go in for the first week of every term, then took the rest of the term off with stress and turned a deaf ear every time the school tried to contact her. To be fair she was stressed, she was in the wrong job. But she got away with it for years.
There is nothing more frustrating from a manager's perspective than to have to deal with irregular staffing levels. It's time consuming, difficult to plan work schedules, implement projects, team build, and so on. However, the situation you describe is something that the medical fraternity should take the blame for. Because they continually abrogate their responsibilites isn't an augument to implement a change in the labour laws.
We have clients traveling from London to us here in 33890 next week.....they will be driving!
Yes, as David said we have no promblems currently .....but there will be a chance of problems
arriving during the journey. Hopefully all goes well and everyone can get to their destinations safely.
Difficult moments Catherine.....I hope that all will be brighter soon.
Robert, the UK government use Statutory Instruments all the time, such as in the illegal removal of our Winter Fuel Payment. If government have these powers, it is not surprising that they use them. Hollande is brave enough to take on the CGT and I believe that it is the fact that a socialist government is going for labour reform that annoys them as well.
I heard the leader of the CGT on the World Service last night saying that he wants to go for a 32 hour week, which is totally ridiculous.
Some one has to be responsible for the economic welfare of France and thank goodness it is not yet the mob.
Barbara, I think it is the uncertainty if getting back home on time which will affect tourists from taking the chance of coming on holiday.
We have built up our gite to the stage where all our hard work is paying off and we have repeat business and even a booking for two weeks for 2017.
Is it any wonder we are furious that it can be put in jeopardy by the increasing number of French strikes.
So how would the proposed changes in the labour laws prevent this?
whilst i agree that some changes are needed i take 2 points as a major stumbling block in the legislation, hours and pay.
So I ask you the same as I asked catherine, can you provide one example of how an employee is abusing thier rights and how making them work irregular hours, from 24 one week to 46 the next for less money would change things?
Yes Jane!
Despite everything many of us have managed to create a good place to stay and
we are busy this summer inspite of everything.
Yes,of course getting stranded here could be a huge problem.
What is your refund policy?
This is something which could be useful to discuss.
Many people on here have rental properties and B and B.
Barbara, we ask for a 10 per cent deposit on booking. We require payment in full six weeks before arrival. If people choose not to come that is at their own risk, although we readvertise and if the property is successfully relet we will return their deposit or full payment. We do suggest that people take out holiday insurance.
We did turn down a booking from a French family who would not agree to our need for full payment six weeks before arrival. They simply could not understand that this is our only gite and we need to protect ourselves from fanciful changes of mind.
if we have to cancel because of our inability to fulfil a booking, then we offer a full refund.
Yes that sounds right.
Blocking dates for people means that there is almost No opportunity to re sell that date.
We have people.....like you who book at least one year in advance.
Yes....insurance is essential.
But what does that insurance cover them for?
Does any one know?
If they decide not to risk the journey....that is their calculated risk.