Which economic sectors are most at risk in the event of a long strike?

Paris (AFP)

If a strike of a few days does not worry too much the economic actors, who had anticipated it, many fear an extension with blockages or a shortage of fuel which would affect their activity more severely during the crucial period of the holidays. State of play

Shops: the alarm already sounded

The first day of Thursday's strike resulted in a 30% drop in activity on average, according to the Trade Alliance, which represents 26,000 stores and 200,000 employees in the field of personal equipment.

She "is alarmed by the effects of the renewal" of the movement for businesses already put "at risk by the permanence, for more than a year, the movement of + yellow vests +".

"A second blow in the same year 2019 could be deadly for many" local businesses, insisted Friday on RTL Alain Griset, president of the Union of local businesses (U2P).

December is crucial for traders, who achieve during this period from 10% to 20% of their annual income, or even more, according to the Trade Alliance. Industry representatives urge consumers to shop at their convenience stores in the near future to stem a leak to e-commerce.

Hospitality, tourism: fears of cascading cancellations

The Union of Trades and Industries of the Hotel Industry (Umih, main organization of the sector) and the National Group of Independents (GNI-Synhorcat, representing about 15,000 establishments) have already noted on the night of Thursday a fall of the bookings of 30 % to 40% in Ile-de-France and Paris.

"The announcement of the extension of the strike until Monday has had an immediate impact with cascading cancellations", according to the spokesperson of the GNI-Synhorcat. "On + a chocotes + that movement is bogged down, that the image of a blocked Paris harms us and we find ourselves in the same situation as last year."

The GNI-Synhorcat still reports a very satisfactory level of reservation for the second half of December. Laurent Duc, president of the hospitality industry of the Umih, is "more negative for the end of the year", with the fear that foreign tourists, in particular, desert the Hexagon.

Food: Rungis made stocks

At the Rungis market, the 1,200 wholesalers and their buyers (between 15,000 and 20,000 per day) had anticipated the strike by increasing inventories.

A "business continuity plan" as a preventive measure has been put in place, with a larger supply. Stocks of fuels and generators can be used if necessary to continue to keep products cold.

The next two weeks are "preponderant", especially for the poultry sector, as Christmas approaches, says a spokeswoman for the market.

Wholesalers make 20% to 30% of their annual turnover in December. Their buyers are especially worried about a strike by carriers and a possible shortage of fuels that would prevent them from coming to stock up.

As for the millers, "we have between 15 days and a month of products in stock to allow us to supply," said Lionel Deloingce, president of Moulin Paul Dupuis and vice president of Intercéréales.

Fuels: do not panic

Twelve fuel depots were blocked Thursday, 5 Friday, and the CGT Chimie is preparing new actions next week. "The level of stocks in oil depots is good and does not cause any concern," says the Ministry of Ecological Transition.

Oil logistics in France is based on a network of 200 depots. The country also has strategic stocks. "It is not necessary to fill up if you do not intend to make immediate use of your vehicle," insists the ministry

Mail, medicine, tickets: no difficulties

La Poste has registered only 1.6% of postal workers strikers and has no particular difficulties to deliver parcels. If the movement continues, the group "would adapt its transport plans, with changes of routes or changes of modes of transport", giving priority to the road to the train for example.

The strikes have little impact for the time on refueling drugs, according to the National Order of Pharmacists. Wholesaler dispatchers, who supply pharmacies, have 15 days of drug stocks as part of their public service obligations.

"We have to organize and anticipate," said OCP who has "a monitoring cell that has been activated for 15 days to ensure continuity of (his) service."

Its vehicles are exposed according to the company, "like any vehicle with possible road blocks and high traffic tension". By decision at the national or local level, the vehicles of wholesale distributors can however be identified as having priority.

The risk of dewatering cash dispensers "is very low in the short term", also says the Bank of France, the carriers of funds having formed precautionary stocks. "Only if the traffic conditions were very much hampered could problems arise here or there."

© 2019 AFP