People on strike today include:

Train drivers. Bus drivers. Tram drivers. Postal workers, teachers, air traffic controllers and hospital staff. Newspaper staff. Civil servants. Students. School pupils. Lawyers. Bank staff.

Fortunately the staff at Société Générale weren't striking, so I was able to pick up my Carte Bleu this morning before work. Getting a bank card is a vital part of acclimatisation to a new country IMO. Now all I need is a proper pass for the transport system (I can at least use it for Velibs while the strike continues..). Irritatingly I am one day too late to get an annual pass starting from December, so I'll have to apply for one from January. In the meantime, I have to get a pass Navigo, the paris equivalent of an Oyster card. Well almost - you can only put weekly and monthly credits on it at the moment. The functionality to allow you to charge it up with individual tickets and carnets is to be added at an unspecified later date.