The social climate is highly tense in France across numerous fronts.
While students and teachers demonstrated throughout Tuesday, October 6, 2026, a nationwide mobilization is expected on October 17, called by many unions.
And, for once, the inter-union of all airlines operating in France filed a strike notice covering October 17 to 21, 2026.
According to our latest signs, discontent is widespread and the conflict could attract strong participation.
Pilots, cabin crew and flight attendants governed by French law are being urged to strike by all sector unions to protest against the reform of the employment-retirement combination.
This law is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, and unions simply demand that airline workers be exempted from the reform.
However, recently the government had committed to removing flight personnel from this reform via an interministerial circular, a document that offers only limited assurances, according to the unions.
In the face of the constant and global grumbling within the sector, the government recently offered concessions to ease the pressure.
While students and teachers demonstrated throughout Tuesday, October 6, 2026, a nationwide mobilization is expected on October 17, called by many unions.
And, for once, the inter-union of all airlines operating in France filed a strike notice covering October 17 to 21, 2026.
According to our latest signs, discontent is widespread and the conflict could attract strong participation.
Pilots, cabin crew and flight attendants governed by French law are being urged to strike by all sector unions to protest against the reform of the employment-retirement combination.
This law is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, and unions simply demand that airline workers be exempted from the reform.
However, recently the government had committed to removing flight personnel from this reform via an interministerial circular, a document that offers only limited assurances, according to the unions.
In the face of the constant and global grumbling within the sector, the government recently offered concessions to ease the pressure.
Grève dans l’aérien du 17 au 21 octobre : les syndicats saluent des avancées…
In one of their latest leaflets, the inter-union shared the assessment and the legal analysis conducted by the Lyon-Caen firm.
“Following this analysis, we therefore conclude that the proposed interministerial circular offers no guarantees to CRPN PAC affiliates and exhibits significant legal vulnerabilities.
It indeed contains an illegality“, the lawyers even stated.
To read : France: a national strike announced in aviation in October!
This only strengthened the protesters and reaffirmed the maintenance of the strike notice.
Except that the government, entangled in a delicate social climate, decided to shift its stance. No more “take it or leave it,” according to the latest union leaflet, regarding the circular. All sides have indeed resumed discussions.
And better, concessions have been offered.
Concrete proposals have been put forward, especially regarding the supplementary retirement fund for the cabin crew of civil aviation, the CRPN.
The government pledged that no financial agreement will be concluded between the CRPN and the State, thereby guaranteeing the fund’s autonomy, even as the executive eyed its substantial reserves and its model.
Not only that. A decree is expected to be published by mid-October to strengthen and secure the legal framework surrounding this promise.
“Following this analysis, we therefore conclude that the proposed interministerial circular offers no guarantees to CRPN PAC affiliates and exhibits significant legal vulnerabilities.
It indeed contains an illegality“, the lawyers even stated.
To read : France: a national strike announced in aviation in October!
This only strengthened the protesters and reaffirmed the maintenance of the strike notice.
Except that the government, entangled in a delicate social climate, decided to shift its stance. No more “take it or leave it,” according to the latest union leaflet, regarding the circular. All sides have indeed resumed discussions.
And better, concessions have been offered.
Concrete proposals have been put forward, especially regarding the supplementary retirement fund for the cabin crew of civil aviation, the CRPN.
The government pledged that no financial agreement will be concluded between the CRPN and the State, thereby guaranteeing the fund’s autonomy, even as the executive eyed its substantial reserves and its model.
Not only that. A decree is expected to be published by mid-October to strengthen and secure the legal framework surrounding this promise.
Grève dans l’aérien du 17 au 21 octobre : le préavis maintenu !
Moreover, no reduction of the CRPN pension can occur before the liquidation of a legal basic pension scheme. Thus, newly retired workers will be able to receive the full pension and their salary if they continue to work, even after turning 64.
This will be validated at the CRPN’s next board meeting.
Finally, a circular aimed only at the National Old-Age Insurance Fund, CNAV, will declare that its scope of application will thus not concern the CRPN.
To read : Aviation: Sébastien Lecornu under pressure to prevent a national strike!
The inter-union welcomes the progress, but remains mobilized nonetheless.
It expects the government’s commitments to be implemented. Furthermore, it continues to demand the total exclusion, by law, of flight personnel from the CER scheme.
“”Our strike notice must continue to weigh on the authorities until firm guarantees matching our demands are obtained”, the leaflet concludes.
Thus, the unions want the executive to move from words to deeds before lifting the strike call. The coming days will be decisive.
This will be validated at the CRPN’s next board meeting.
Finally, a circular aimed only at the National Old-Age Insurance Fund, CNAV, will declare that its scope of application will thus not concern the CRPN.
To read : Aviation: Sébastien Lecornu under pressure to prevent a national strike!
The inter-union welcomes the progress, but remains mobilized nonetheless.
It expects the government’s commitments to be implemented. Furthermore, it continues to demand the total exclusion, by law, of flight personnel from the CER scheme.
“”Our strike notice must continue to weigh on the authorities until firm guarantees matching our demands are obtained”, the leaflet concludes.
Thus, the unions want the executive to move from words to deeds before lifting the strike call. The coming days will be decisive.
