“We no longer want to live under the threat of a strike,” explained François Durovray on RMC this Thursday morning. This decision aims to avoid recurring pressure from railway unions during this sensitive period.
If the strike seems poorly attended this Thursday, the railway unions have not ruled out renewing the protest movement in December. Every end of the year, French travelers are caught in the grip of these strike threats which occur a few days before or during the Christmas holidays, dear to families. “We no longer want to live under the threat of a strike”launched this Thursday morning on RMC François Durovray, the Minister for Transport.
In consultation with the CEO of SNCF, Jean-Pierre Farandou, the two men adopted “a measure that is very simple” : “Salary negotiations will now take place at the start of the year, in January, and no longer at Christmas.” The objective is thus to reduce inconvenience for travelers and to postpone potential threats of strikes once the end-of-year holidays are over. “Everyone must be responsible”underlines François Durovray.
Also read
“Unthinkable salary increases in the private sector”: this thirst for unlimited increases among railway workers
“The question of minimum service arises”
Concerning a framework for the right to strike, supported in particular by the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, or the Minister Delegate for Industry, Marc Ferracci, the Minister of Transport recalls that the “Constitution organizes the right to strike but also the continuity of public service”. “The question of minimum service arises, there is already work in the Senate, we will see if they are destined to prosper”adds the member of the Barnier government.
He now calls on striking railway workers to demonstrate “responsibility [car] no one understands” this movement. “We do not understand why the principle of the strike is fixed before social dialogue”deplores François Durovray, with “SNCF agents who benefit from the good health of their company”. The latter notably proposes to increase salaries by 2.2% to silence protests, an increase higher than inflation set at 1.5% last month.
