A strike at SNCF during the holidays? At this stage, there is still no end to the crisis in sight

Management and unions participated in work meetings, while several organizations are calling for a strike by controllers on February 17 and 18.

Towards a strike from February 16 to 18? A meeting between SNCF voyageurs and the management of the unions, in the middle of school holidays in much of the country, was not possible to eliminate the risk of social movement by the controllers. The unions, which carry the voice of a set of controllers created at Facebook at the end of 2022, condemn the non-application of the conflict resolution agreement signed at that time.

SNCF canceled numerous TGVs due to a massive strike by crew chiefs in the middle of Christmas week, stranding 200,000 travelers just days before the holiday. The hastily signed agreement provided for opening discussions on better remuneration, recruitment, as well as toughening of the occupation. “Management tried to assure us that it was implementing the measures promised in December 2022 but, we gave them many examples of cases or places where this was not the case”Southern Rail Federal Secretary Eric Meyer explained.

The union, which called the strike with the CGT-Caminots and the CFDT-Caminots, condemned, for example, the systematic absence of two crew chiefs by the TGV, as initially promised. Questions of hardship and specific end-of-career plans for controllers, which were to be discussed, have not yet been addressed, Sud-Rail also decries.

The CEO will receive the unions on Thursday

Management has promised to hold a round table on the subject in March. It also assured 200 additional recruitments this year to reach the figure of 850 new captains by 2024. “The purpose of today’s meeting was not to take notice but to give a full update on the progress of the commitments, it was not a meeting of negotiations”An SNCF spokesman clarified.

“Measures as a result of the agreement reached at the end of 2022 – all have been initiated, almost all of them are multi-year, so we must confirm them over time”, underlined the company’s HR director, Lucille Quesart. For example, not all TGVs could be systematically provided with two crew chiefs because “We couldn’t do it. It’s started, and we’re optimistic about getting there.”. Another example: remuneration. A system allowing more or less retention of sick leave just came into effect in January. “Maybe we didn’t communicate enough” On this topic, says Lucile Quessart.

The crisis, in any case, is being taken seriously. SNCF CEO Jean-Pierre Ferrandou will receive all unions on Thursday to address the social agenda, including the topic of the controllers’ strike.