Brexit protest: French customs staff strike over Brexit plan sparking Eurostar delays

The industrial action is being carried out by customs staff who accuse their bosses of failing to properly prepare for Brexit. They are demanding higher pay and better working conditions to face the more challenging border controls Britain’s departure from the European Union could bring. Eurostar passengers have faced a day of misery and airports serving Paris have also suffered delays and cancellations as a result of the work-to-rule strikes which began on March 4.

Travellers reported delays at the Gare du Nord Eurostar terminal in Paris with airports in the French capital as well as Lyon, Chambéry and Grenoble also affected.

The busy Channel port of Calais has also been affected by the strikes.

Eurostar announced the cancellation of two Paris to London trains earlier today and said: “We are expecting around 120 minute delays throughout the day.”

It advised people with tickets for today and tomorrow to travel only “if necessary” and has offered free ticket exchanges.

The work-to-rule strikes have seen customs officers making over-zealous identity and safety checks, slowing passengers flows to a trickle through terminals at Eurostar, Eurotunnel and the ports in Calais and airports.

Emmanuel Macron’s French government has pledged to recruit an extra 700 customs officials to deal with extra administrative demands that Brexit could entail but unions say too little has been done too late.

Yann Kerhervé, customs head for the CGT union in Paris, said: “Naturally Brexit is going to be very complicated, even more so because there is huge lack of preparedness – that’s the impression customs officers have.”

Truckers in Calais were the first hit by the action last week, followed by Eurostar and airports in the Alps where many Britons have been taking half-term ski holidays.

French budget minister Gerald Darmanin is due to meet customs unions tomorrow to resolver the row but it is unclear how long the industrial action will continue.

source: express.co.uk