STRIKING airport workers in Paris called an end to their stoppages today after securing a 3% pay rise from management – in line with a similar deal agreed for the railways this week.

The decision was voted at a staff meeting of employees of ADP Group, which runs the main Charles de Gaulle airport northeast of the capital and the smaller Orly airport to the south.

The strike had threatened to run to Sunday, disturbing a major travel weekend at the start of the summer holidays in France.

“ADP Group welcomes the agreement,” the company said in a statement, while trade union leaders also sounded satisfied despite their initial demands for a six-percent hike.

The deal also provides for separate individual rises for around 1,800 staff members.

Like all countries faced with spiralling energy and food prices, France is seeing a round of strikes and pay demands in key sectors.

The state-run rail network SNCF agreed to a rise of 3.7% on Wednesday for all non-management staff following stoppages, while government workers are set to receive 3.5%.

“We encourage companies, where they can, to raise salaries,” Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire told a press conference yesterday. 

Annual inflation was clocked at just below 6% in France last month, much lower than in many European countries due to caps introduced by the government on energy prices. – AFP, July 8, 2022.