France is moving slowly today due to the previously announced large strike of civil servants, to which the railway workers were added.
Both civil servants and the railways are generally opposed to Macron policy, with different demands for each sector: the railways are refusing to reform their long-standing regime and open up to competition.
Civil servants deny the freezing of their salaries and complain about the lack of resources and staff as well as the recourse to external contractors.
So the country is waiting to live a nightmarish day that is already characterized as "Black Thursday".
Many workers from the province started their day at dawn in order to be able to board a train on time. According to the Railways (SNCF), more than half of high-speed trains (TGVs) are out of order, especially on the north axis of the country. The same goes for the other local connections between the cities, with the trains at conventional speeds.
There will also be a problem with the high-speed metro (RER) links between Paris and the suburbs.
Airports provide for the cancellation of 30% of flights at airports. Efforts are being made not to affect long-haul flights but without ruling out delays.
In schools, one in four teachers are on strike and the problems are particularly acute for parents who have children in kindergarten and primary school.
Problems are expected in libraries or even in the garbage collection, while retirees also go down the street for the second time.
A total of 180 demonstrations are planned across the country.
In Paris, two separate marches are organized with a final meeting point in the Place de la Bastille: the train stations will start from the east train station (Gare de l'Est), and the Civil Servants from the Ministry of Economy and Finance (Bercy).
The two marches will join in the afternoon in the Bastille, where will be present, among others, the former candidate of the Socialists Benoit Amon and the permanent opponent of Jean-Luc Melanson, leader of the "Insubordinate France" which this time seems to "follow" the trade union movement, following his failed previous attempt to take the lead.
Today's major mobilization is also considered an important test of endurance for the government, which, through the Prime Minister, declares that it is "determined" to proceed with the reforms without delay.