Cross-Channel train services were thrown into chaos again today as militant French trade unions staged a “
Brexit-style” work to rule.
Eurostar was reporting cancellations and delays to services from its
Paris hub, where long queues started to build from 6am.
They were caused by uniformed French customs officials at the
Gare du Nord interrogating all passengers once their luggage had cleared X-ray machines.
“They’re asking us where we live, what our jobs are, and whether we have any money or drugs on us,” said Iain Kelly, a businessman travelling to an early morning meeting in London.
“This never normally happens, and it’s pretty intimidating. Once your luggage clears you are normally good to go.
“The customs officials are being extremely aggressive, and causing massive delays. They’re treating everybody as it they’re a problem.”
One train – the 8.37am from Paris to London – was cancelled completely.
Michael Szadkowski, a Le Monde journalist who was also travelling to the English capital, said customs officials were trying to “demonstrate the effects of Brexit” and “the result is that security checks are reinforced with absurdity”.
A statement released by Eurostar read: “We are experiencing up to 120 minutes delay on departures from Paris Gare du Nord today due to French customs work to rule.’”
“If you arrive at your destination more than 60 minutes late, you can claim compensation.”
Five French trade unions are behind the protests, and are demanding more staff and better pay to cope what they will argue will be more difficult checks after Brexit, which will technically happen at the end of this month.
David-Olivier Caron, of the CFDT union, said: “Customs officers are strictly applying the rules and reinforcing controls.”
And Philippe Bollengier, from the CGT union, added: “There will be stronger controls. Today you have a demonstration of what is going to happen” [after Brexit].
One of his uniformed colleagues dealing with passengers waiting to travel from Paris to London said: “Brexit will be terrible for all of us.
“We simply do not have the manpower or resources to deal with the new demands on us.”
Despite this, the officer could not explain what would change, particularly as French customs currently deal with thousands of non-EU passport holders every day.
Instead he spent a minimum of three minutes interrogating every passenger whose luggage had already been cleared by passing through a detector.
“Like all of them, he’s being absolutely bloody-minded,” said a 34-year-old British passenger from London.
“This is industrial action by the French pure and simple. Militant trade unionists are using Brexit as an excuse to raise their grievances.”
Trade unions regularly bring transport to a halt in France as they campaign for better pay and conditions.
Another statement posted by Eurostar on its website reads: “We expect to maintain services on the existing basis, timetable and terms and conditions following Brexit.
“We are working closely with our station partners, Governments and border authorities on both sides of the Channel to ensure that robust plans are in place for us to continue to operate in either a deal or ‘no-deal’ scenario.”
