Mélina Facchin // Credit photo: Abdesslam Mirdass / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP
06:13, June 21, 2024modified to
Strasbourg bus and tram drivers and controllers begin a strike this Thursday, June 21, until Wednesday, June 26, the date the Olympic flame passes through Alsace. Particularly at issue: the growing insecurity of which they are victims from users.
The drivers and controllers of public transport at the Compagnie des Transports Strasbourgeois (CTS) are angry. At the call of three unions (UNSA, CGT and Sud), they announce a strike from this Thursday, June 21, for the Fête de la Musique, and until Wednesday, June 26, the date of passage of the Olympic flame in the Alsatian capital. Among their demands: insecurity which has continued to increase in transport in recent years and of which they are too often the victims.
“Colleagues are at the end of their tether”
Daniel has been a bus and tram driver in Strasbourg for 32 years. And he feels that violence is increasing considerably in transport. “I have already filed a complaint for assault and death threats five or six times,” he confirms. He particularly remembers this time when “a kid [lui] put his finger under his throat as if to say ‘I’m going to kill you’.
The insults “are daily” and Daniel regrets this trivialization of violence. “Are we being insulted? It’s normal, it’s part of the job of driving. I say no!”, he proclaims. And he is far from the only one suffering from the situation. “Again this afternoon, I was talking with colleagues and they are at the end of their tether,” assures the driver.
“Weapons of war in transport”
It is particularly because of this explosion of violence that Daniel is going on strike this Friday, June 21, like at least 30% of his fellow drivers and controllers at the Compagnie des Transports Strasbourgeois (CTS). Stéphane Daveluy, Unsa delegate, confirms the growing uneasiness of his colleagues: “There is not a week without us having alerts about armed users on our transport,” he laments. “Cold weapons, but also rifles, pistols, weapons of war” are spotted more and more often by CTS employees.
“These are alerts that we had twice a year at one time,” recalls Stéphane Daveluy. “Today, it’s every week. We wonder where it’s going to go, when someone will take action and who will be the victim,” sighs delegate Unsa.
Beyond the growing insecurity in their daily lives, the CTS unions also denounce favoritism from management in place for three years in the awarding of certain calls for tender. They also deplore work rates which cause too much delay and too much stress. “In particular, we require three minutes of waiting time at tram terminals to have time to change cabins without rushing,” explains Stéphane Daveluy.
