A group of around 40 members of the Alliance Police Nationale staged a surprise demonstration at the French portal of the Channel Tunnel on Thursday 24 September, briefly reducing vehicle flow and prompting Eurotunnel to activate its contingency traffic-management plan. Officers waving union flags distributed leaflets demanding pay rises and better working conditions, the latest in a series of police labour actions targeting strategic borders. Although the protest lasted less than two hours, it forced freight shuttles onto a reduced schedule and added up to 25 minutes to passenger-car check-in during the afternoon peak. Eurostar services were not cancelled but operated under a “go slow” order through the tunnel for safety reasons, arriving in London and Paris with average delays of 15 minutes. For companies that rely on just-in-time supply chains between France and the UK, even short industrial actions can ripple into missed delivery slots and contractual penalties. Logistics managers are advised to build a 90-minute buffer into cross-Channel movements through the weekend in case of follow-up demonstrations, which union representatives have not ruled out. The episode highlights the sensitivity of critical border infrastructure to domestic labour disputes. With French police unions scheduled to meet the Interior Minister next week, global mobility teams should watch for further “operations escargot” (go-slow actions) that could affect airports, ports and land borders.
Source: Radio 6 – Calais
