It didn’t take long! French airport workers are calling for a strike in the week before the Paris Olympics, within hours of the far-left Socialists’ election victory

French airport workers have called for a strike in the week before the Paris Olympics, which start in late July.

The unions CGT, CFDT, FO and UNSA called for a strike on July 17, just nine days before the start of the Olympic Games in Paris on July 26.

They demand that all staff receive an Olympic bonus and condemn ‘the unilateral decision of the general manager to pay a bonus to only some of the staff.’

The unions said they will “suspend participation in all forms of meetings with management” and will call for “a strike on July 17 to seek redress.”

The call came just hours after the left-wing New Popular Front coalition came first in the second round of parliamentary elections, surprising many.

The results showed the coalition won just over 180 seats, putting it ahead of President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance, with just over 160 seats, and Marine Le Pen’s far-right Rassemblement National party and her allies, who finished in third place.

The NFP is made up of several left-wing parties, including France Unbowed (LFI) – led by far-left activist Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the Socialist Party (PS), the French Green Party (LE-EELV) and the French Communist Party (PCF).

The leaders of the New Popular Front immediately urged Macron to give them the first chance to form a government and propose a prime minister.

The faction promises to roll back many of Macron’s key reforms, implement a costly government spending program and take a tougher line against Israel over its war with Hamas.

But even within the left, it is unclear who could lead the government without alienating key allies.

As questions arise over the future of French politics, the country’s unions missed no opportunity to capitalise on the left’s victory.

Unions at the state-controlled Groupe ADP, which runs Paris’ main airports Charles de Gaulle and Orly, had previously called for a strike on May 19, but it did not lead to major disruption.

The two airports are the main gateway to France for foreign visitors to the Olympic Games. Some 350,000 people are expected to pass through each day during the Games, plus most of the athletes and their equipment.

Thousands of athletes are expected to arrive from 18 July when the athletes’ village opens. A new temporary oversized baggage terminal has been set up at Charles de Gaulle, where luggage such as kayaks, bikes and pole vaults will be stored.

Unions representing public sector workers in France have demanded extra pay or support for the need to work during the Paris Olympics from July 26 to August 11. The Games fall during the traditional summer holidays in France.

Police, air traffic controllers, garbage collectors, central government officials, metro and train drivers and firefighters have all made demands, while their employers have been under pressure to give in to avoid disruption.

Workers at the national mint, which produces the medals, are also on strike, but management says production has not been affected.