About “90% trains will roll” during the May 8 bridge, reassures Jean-Pierre Farandou

As May 8 approach, the French who will take advantage of these few days to go away from home have all their eyes scrutinized on the SNCF. In question, a strike from the CGT-Cheminots and Sud-Rail, which started on Monday. “We do everything to offer trains to our customers”said this Tuesday morning on France Inter the president of the SNCF group, Jean-Pierre Farandou. He claims to be quite confident, with “Not far from 90% trains that will ride”.

The boss of the public enterprise does not express fear for “Departures, which will be fine”. Regarding feedback, he “Think can bring everyone back” : “Some customers will have their train and others may have to shift their journey by an hour or two.”

“Our competitors laugh when the railroad workers strike”blows the representative on France Inter, citing in particular Trenitalia or Blablacar. For Jean-Pierre Farandou, “This strike is incomprehensible”this castigating claims on the part of the unions “Still for money”. In particular, he recalls that he has increased wages by 20% in four years, “While inflation is rather at 14.5%” During this same period. It also points to the increase in the number of employees at the SNCF, which peaks at 11% more for controllers.

“Value sharing is there”

Added to this is the signature “Eight social agreements last year”including one on the “End of career arduousness”. “We did the job, the sharing of the value is there”proclaims the boss of the SNCF. If the unions have questioned the administrative slowness of the company, Jean-Pierre Farandou explains “Have already decided things, especially on schedules”. So, “The rest will be positioned for six months”without the possibility of shifting them and “Requests for leave will be answered after seven days”.

If the social dialogue has been engaged with management, it castigates however “Categorical strikes” : “I am the boss of 150,000 railroad workers, I do not really like categorical claims. You have to give time to time. “ As for the bill submitted several months ago by the current Minister of Transport, Philippe Tabarot, on a quota of 30 days of strike prohibition in the year, the president of the group specifies that it is “Politicians”. “My job is social dialogue to prevent strikes from coming. I am for the right to strike, there is no question of questioning it ”concluded Jean-Pierre Farandou.