Police fired aerosol to undertake to disperse the protesters at the 2E terminal, primarily used for international travel. An Associated Press reporter at the scene saw passengers wiping their stinging eyes and youngsters frightened.
Banging drums and tooting horns, a couple of hundred union activists blocked the terminal’s passport control area, causing many passengers to miss their flights. Riot police with helmets and shields fanned out, and passengers were re-routed to a neighboring terminal.
Unions are negotiating with Paris airport management over pay cuts linked to the collapse in aviation amid the pandemic. Management of the Paris airport network says revenue was down 80% in 2020 which it's trying to avoid layoffs by trimming pay instead.
Unions announced strikes and protests through Monday, even as many French families leave on summer holidays.