Among the demands of the bridge strike of 8-May, an increase in remuneration and schedules software which modifies the railway workers at the “last moment”. According to management, these changes only concern 3% of cases.
Remuneration, specific bonuses … The causes of the mobilization of this month of May 2025 are numerous. But the other subject that crystallizes the tensions between the direction of the SNCF and the railway workers (drivers and controllers) is that of the overhaul of the planning.
Indeed, according to the unions, the software supposed to optimize the schedules, in particular thanks to artificial intelligence, destabilizes work schedules. Many railway workers would thus be subject to last -minute changes.
“One in two chance that the days jump”
“This software was set up four years ago,” recalls Fabien Villedieu, union representative of Sud-Rail, at Tech & Co. “At the beginning, he warned us of our schedules a year in advance. Then, it came down to 6 months, then to three.” Worse, “some colleagues controller realizes that the software can change their days almost 24 hours before.”
Indeed, as stipulated by the national collective agreement of the railway branch, employees must be informed of the changes in their schedule no later than 24 hours in advance. A deadline that falls at one hour for the modification of working hours. But these cases must remain exceptional.
“Last minute changes, it happens very often,” he continues. “There is one in two chance that the days jump or the schedules are completely different.”
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“We are not machines, we are still human beings,” he plague. Under these conditions, impossible for agents to organize themselves, therefore. “Before, the bearings made it possible to project themselves. In four years, the working conditions have deteriorated,” observes the one who recalls that his colleagues have for example difficulty programming a medical appointment or organizing to recover their children.
“We do not call into question the logic of optimization and productivity”, insists Fabien Villedieu. “When the days were changed on the sidelines, it was not a problem. But there, that rots the lives of agents, who are already in offset times with weekends during the week (…) It is hell.”
An audit led by the SNCF
For its part, the SNCF management indicates that according to its calculations, most of the changes on time jobs are announced at least a month in advance, and only in 3 % of cases on average overnight, recalls 20 minutes. A figure refuted by Sud-Rail.
“The controllers will not go on strike for 3% offset days,” protested the union representative. “Given the percentages of strikers, there is a real problem. It is far from being marginal.”
The management of the SNCF admitted, on April 23, that “improvements” should be “to bring visibility for railway workers”. She also promised “better visibility of six months over rest periods and better responsiveness following requests for leave”.
The planning management software will be audited by an external expert and “working groups” will be brought together. “The SNCF acknowledged that there was a problem and wishes to find solutions,” confirms Fabien Villedieu, who regrets, however, that the conclusions of this investigation were not made until September.
