FedEx Express was hit by protest strikes at various facilities in France last week in a pay dispute but claims it is now getting back to business.
Staff took industrial action at about 12 facilities in the country, including the Lieusaint domestic hub near Paris, the Paris-Orly and the Lyon branches, according to various local media reports. The Lieusant hub, covering 14,500 sqm, handles up to 60,000 parcels a day, mostly shipments for delivery within France.
Union officials said that staff went on strike and blocked the facilities after the company refused to increase a 1.5% pay offer. The unions are seeking a 5% pay rise.
A FedEx Express France spokeswoman confirmed to CEP-Research today: “FedEx experienced service delays for pickups and deliveries for domestic shipments during the week of June 7th as a result of industrial action taken by a group of FedEx Express France employees at the Lieusaint hub and a number of other locations.”
However, she emphasised: “There was minimal impact on International shipments into and out of France.”
The FedEx spokeswoman explained: “This industrial action followed the end of the mandatory annual negotiations on pay increases, enhanced working conditions and gender equality. The industrial action has now ceased and we are actively working to expedite those shipments impacted during the industrial action and are returning our operations to normal.”
FedEx comprises three legal entities in France: FedEx Express International France (the international business), FedEx Express France (the domestic business, formerly Tatex) and FedEx Express Corp. The group has more than 4,000 employees, including some 2,400 workers at the international hub at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport, and about 1,000 vehicles. The international express network covers 31 stations while the domestic network has 36 distribution centres.
