what consequences for traffic in the run-up to Christmas?

© François Lalande/Capital

– Will the December 11 strike at the SNCF be widely followed?

Will the French be bothered to go on vacation at Christmas? The question is on everyone's lips after the announcement of a strike notice for the December 11 next. A renewable strike which follows a first movement on November 21, described as«ultimatum» by railway workers. The latter, who denounce the dismantling of freight and protest against the terms of opening regional lines to competition, are ready for unlimited movement. On November 21, the boss of the SNCF, Jean-Pierre Farandou, announced that he would “do everything to” that there are trains at Christmas.

Questioned by BFMTV, the general secretary of the CGT Cheminots revealed that he had had an interview with the Minister of Transport, François Durovray, on Wednesday December 4. If there were «discussions»it emerged from two hour meeting with “not frustration, but a lot of anger”. On Freight, the head of the CGT explained that the minister “refused to comply with this demand”. The unions particularly fear that the absence of a budget, a consequence of the motion of censure, will cause the aid planned for 2025 to disappear.

A movement ultimately little followed?

However, they are essential to the survival of the subsidiaries – Hexafret and Technis. “The 4,500 Fret SNCF employees risk being transferred to companies whose economic viability is not guaranteed”already deplores the federal secretary Sud-Rail. Outside of freight, railway workers are striking against the opening to competition, particularly in the TER market. As BFMTV reminds us, only Transdev won a tender for the Marseille-Toulon-Nice line.

“One of our demands is to renounce the establishment of subsidiaries within the framework of calls for tender for passenger transport”indicated the general secretary of the CGT Cheminots. But the union received “an end of inadmissibility” and therefore calls for a renewable strike starting next week. However, according to information from BFMTV, the movement may not be widely followed since railway workers would be reluctant to take days off during this strike notice.

Furthermore, whether in the case of freight, or that of opening up to competition, everything would be “already played”recognizes a railway worker among our colleagues. And since salary demands are not part of the grievances in this notice, the French should not be too bothered.