On Tuesday the French Senate, with 211 votes in favor from the centre-right camp and 112 against expressed by the Left, adopted, at first reading, a proposal of law aimed at "reconciling the continuity of the service public transport with the exercise of the right to strike", rule that would be applied to regular transport services public land passenger transport, including rail transport, with the exception of international passenger transport services.

The text provides for the possible suspension of the right to strike between 6.30 and 9.30 a.m. and between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. up to seven days, for an annual total that cannot be be more than thirty days. In addition, between two periods of suspension must be complied with a period of at least five days. The proposal provides for these deadlines to be fixed every year by decree of the Council of State, the publication of which shall take place at least ninety days before the start of the first period data subject, under penalty of inapplicability. Such a decree would be adopted after consultation, for a period of at least thirty days, trade unions and employers' organisations.

The bill provides, among other things, that when due to the available workforce did not allow, for a period of three consecutive days, to ensure the minimum level of of service corresponding to the coverage of essential needs of the population, particularly at peak times, the transport organiser orders the transport company to require the necessary personnel to guarantee this level of service.

In addition, the bill provides that the decree of the Council of State defines periods of suspension of the right to strikes on public holidays, public holidays and of the electoral consultations and provides for the transport company to the possibility of imposing on employees who have declared to participate in the strike, within a period of time that the proposal extends from 48 to 72 hours, to exercise this right exclusively at the beginning of one of their shifts until its end.

The bill is opposed by the government and on Tuesday Patrice Vergriete, Minister Delegate for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, with responsibility for Transport, confirmed the that the executive "does not agree with its orientations".