French tourism industry on the barricades over weaker position of seasonal workers

Ski tourists gaze longingly at the closed slopes, the few lifts still in operation have huge lines, and the understaffed restaurants offer little comfort.

 “Our intention is to disturb the operation of the ski centres, not halt them entirely,” explains Matteo Thomas, who represents the employees of a ski resort in the Pyrenees through the trade union Force Ouvrière (FO). 

He is one of the many striking employees at his workplace. Thomas, whose duties include slope maintenance and snowmaking, says that while nobody will be prevented from skiing, customers will have their patience tested at the understaffed ski resort. 

“Roughly half of the slopes, and the ski lifts, are closed. At the restaurant and spa, about a third of staff are on strike.” 

According to Thomas, the intention is to make tourists aware of the problems facing tourism workers through the strikes, but also by organising meetings where the underlying reasons of the strike are explained to customers.

Seasonal workers forgotten

The terms of employment in the tourism industry have continued to deteriorate during the past few years. The poor housing of seasonal employees working at luxury resorts has been a particular target of public outrage. The last draw for the industry was a reform to the unemployment system, which took effect in April, threatening to cut benefits by 20–50%. The upcoming pension reform will also weaken the pension coverage of seasonal employees.

“The laws are made as if seasonal workers didn’t exist. But there are more than 200,000 of us in France,” says Thomas.

Approximately 80% of all seasonal workers in France work at ski centres.

Muriel Pénicaud, the minister of labour, tried to resolve the situation by meeting with the striking employees at a ski resort in the Alps. The minister promised to look for ways to employ seasonal workers outside the ski and tourist season. However, this was not enough for tourism employees. 

The unprecedented industrial action will specifically target luxury resorts in the Alps and Pyrenees, including Val Thorens, Courchevel and Val d’Isere. Approximately 15% of tourism revenue in France comes from travel in the mountains, mostly ski tourism. 

In Finland, new terms of employment for the ski centre industry were agreed in December. Collective bargaining for the hotel, restaurant and leisure services sector are underway.