unions call for strike on November 21 and threaten mobilization in December

All SNCF unions called on Tuesday for a 24-hour strike on Thursday, November 21, following a meeting with the management of the railway group to discuss the dismantling of Fret SNCF and the opening to competition. In a press release entitled “the time has come for conflict at the SNCF”the CGT-Cheminots, the Unsa-Ferroviaire, Sud-Rail and the CFDT-Cheminots warn that this strike day is “an ultimatum” avant “a longer and stronger strike movement in December” if the government and the SNCF do not respond to their demands.

The day after the announcement of the dismantling of Fret SNCF, targeted by proceedings brought by the European Commission for illegal public aid, the railway workers decided to raise their voice. The unions not only denounce “the liquidation of Fret SNCF” but also “privatization in TER, Transilien and Intercités activities” as well as “the breakup of SNCF Réseau” under the effect of opening to competition.

In mid-December, the first SNCF Voyageurs railway workers will be transferred to SNCF subsidiaries, created to respond to TER calls for tenders launched by the regions which have decided to open their railway network to competition. “It is the unity of the unified public group that the CEO of the SNCF, on the front line, is exploding with his strategy of social dumping and unlimited financial profitability”denounce the unions. They particularly fear the loss of social benefits during these transfers to the subsidiaries.

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“Act 2 of the 2018 rail counter-reform”

For them, it is about “Act 2 of the 2018 rail counter-reform” which transformed the SNCF into five public limited companies to prepare for the opening to competition and eliminate the railway worker status guaranteeing certain advantages. “It is also a union response against this illegitimate government that we are going to launch”also note the trade union organizations, hoping to influence the choices of the Minister of Transport.

The Minister for Transport “can abandon its “Car express” plan for 2025 and devote itself to public rail service and its financing”they say ironically in the press release, referring to François Durovray's desire to develop intercity coaches. To avoid a strike in December just before the Christmas holidays, the unions are demanding “stopping the SNCF Freight discontinuity process”l’“stopping the TER, Transilien and Intercités subsidiary process” and one “multi-annual programming law for the modernization of the rail system”.