Strike threat at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games

Negotiations to end a strike threat by 700 dancers involved in the opening ceremony of the 2023 Olympic Games in Paris failed on Tuesday, leaving the event at risk of being disrupted.

The SFA-CGT union, which says it represents about ten percent of the 3,000 artists involved in the opening ceremony, announced a strike last week because it believes there are “egregious differences” in the dancers’ pay.

At a meeting between the union and the Games’ organizing committee on Tuesday, the lowest-paid athletes were offered an additional 120 euros ($130), but the offer was rejected.

“This Tuesday, we were finally presented with a timid proposal concerning an increase in the remuneration for broadcasting rights,” the union said in a statement to AFP.

The threat of a strike is an unwelcome development for French organisers and risks worsening France’s reputation as a country with many labour disputes, just at a time when the eyes of the world are on Paris, where the Games begin this Friday, July 26, 2024.

Numerous French public sector workers have threatened strikes or work stoppages ahead of the Olympic Games to demand bonuses for their work during the event, which will take place from July 26 to August 11 and coincide with the summer holidays.

One-off payments of up to 1,900 euros have been agreed for police officers and municipal employees in Paris.

The president of the former communist-aligned CGT union, Sophie Binet, called on the company hosting the opening ceremony, Paname 2024, to reach an agreement to quickly end the strike threat.

Some dancers protested during rehearsals on the Seine on Monday by standing and raising their fists in the air for eight minutes.

The opening ceremony is scheduled to take place on a six-kilometer stretch of the Seine, with around 6,000 to 7,000 athletes expected to sail down the river on 85 boats.

These will be the first Summer Olympics to open outside the large athletics stadium.

A small union at Paris airport operator ADP has also announced a strike for Friday.

Last week, company management reached an agreement with most employee representatives to settle a dispute over Olympic bonuses.

AFP