2024-11-21 03:00:00
No major chaos but localized disruptions: Thursday’s strike at the SNCF at the call of all the group’s unions was not massively followed, the day after announcements of moderate salary increases for 2025.
The Inoui and Ouigo TGVs will run more or less normally, but only seven out of ten TER trains and one out of two Intercités trains will run compared to usual.
In the Paris region, the R lines of the Transilien and the RER D, traditional strongholds of the Sud-Rail union, will be the most affected with only one train in three.
This half-hearted mobilization is a failure for the unions who sought to mobilize strongly after the announcement of the dismantling of Fret SNCF at the beginning of November.
They had presented this day as an “ultimatum” before a renewable strike movement from December 11, if no response was provided to their demands.
The CGT-Cheminots, Unsa-Ferroviaire, Sud-Rail and the CFDT-Cheminots are calling in particular for a moratorium on the dismantling – without dismissal – of the public freight operator, leader in rail freight transport in France.
– Renegotiate –
They believe that the agreement concluded between the French government and the European Commission at the beginning of 2023 can be renegotiated with the new European executive, and in particular Teresa Ribera, future commissioner in charge of ecological transition and competition.
Asked on Wednesday on BFM Business about the reasons for the weak mobilization of railway workers, the general secretary of the CGT-Cheminots Thierry Nier recognized that “the subject is complex”.
“To say to yourself + I am affected by what is happening to freight + is not obvious,” he admitted, while 5,000 railway workers work there out of 150,000 within the SNCF group.
But “what is happening to freight is exactly what is happening in passenger transport, particularly to the TER,” added Mr. Nier.
The inter-union is indeed concerned about the creation of subsidiaries by SNCF Voyageurs to respond to calls for tenders launched by the regions to operate their regional express train (TER) network.
In mid-December, nearly 1,200 railway workers will be transferred for the first time to three of these subsidiaries, with the result being a less advantageous organization of working time in order to gain productivity and competitiveness.
– Wages –
But according to the management of the SNCF, Thursday’s mobilization also obeys a hidden slogan which concerns salaries.
“The French would not understand a long and hard strike in December for salary issues,” CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou warned on Sunday.
Mandatory annual negotiations were held on Wednesday and SNCF management proposed a 2.2% increase, significantly less than in previous years, marked by high inflation.
For the unions, it is a simple coincidence of timing. “If the four union federations had wanted to raise the question of salary as a mobilization issue (…), we would have done so. We are not deceivers, we are clear and sufficiently legible,” insisted Thierry Nier.
“President Farandou adopted the strategy of diversion because he knows, in the strike notice, there is no question of salaries,” he denounced.
In addition to the moratorium on the dismantling of Fret SNCF and the end of “subsidiarization” in the TER, the inter-union is asking for a multi-year programming law to finance the maintenance of the network.
The four union federations are due to meet in the evening to discuss the continuation of the movement.
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How does Thierry Nier view the impact of salary increases on worker morale and future union actions?
**Interview with Thierry Nier, General Secretary of CGT-Cheminots**
*Date: November 21, 2024*
**Interviewer:** Good morning, Thierry. Thank you for joining us today. Many people noticed that Thursday’s strike at SNCF did not see the massive participation that some unions had anticipated. Can you explain what might have contributed to this lack of mobilization?
**Thierry Nier:** Good morning, and thank you for having me. Yes, the turnout was disappointing relative to our expectations. I think it’s important to recognize that the issues surrounding freight and passenger transport are complex. Many workers, especially in passenger services, may not immediately grasp how changes in freight transport impact them directly. Out of approximately 150,000 employees at SNCF, only around 5,000 work in freight. This disconnect makes it harder for some to see the relevance of our struggle for the public freight operator and how it mirrors issues in the TER (Transport Express Régional) services.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned that this was seen as an ultimatum before a potential renewable strike in December. What are the specific demands that the unions are voicing, and what would you consider a successful outcome from this current mobilization?
**Thierry Nier:** Our primary demand is for a moratorium on the dismantling of Fret SNCF, which is critical for rail freight transport in France. We are advocating for this process to continue without any job losses. We believe the agreement reached between the French government and the European Commission at the start of 2023 can still be renegotiated. We hope that the new European executive, particularly Teresa Ribera, will be willing to reconsider this agreement in light of our concerns.
**Interviewer:** With the moderate salary increases announced for 2025, do you believe this will quell further unrest among workers? Or does it have the opposite effect?
**Thierry Nier:** While salary increases are always appreciated, they do not address the broader issues of job security and the future of our rail network. The stakes are much higher than just compensation; we are fighting for the sustainability of the services we provide and the preservation of jobs. Therefore, while the increase might placate some, it doesn’t resolve the underlying tensions.
**Interviewer:** Lastly, what are the next steps if the government does not respond to the unions’ demands before the December deadline?
**Thierry Nier:** If there is no significant progress on our demands by December 11, we will initiate a renewable strike movement. This would represent a serious escalation of our actions, and we would mobilize our members across the board to ensure that we make our voices heard. Our fight is not just for the future of freight transport—it’s for the integrity and sustainability of the entire SNCF network.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Thierry. We appreciate your time and wish you and your union the best in the coming weeks.
**Thierry Nier:** Thank you for having me. It’s crucial that we continue this dialog and highlight the importance of our cause.
