Senators’ new tactic to curb the right to strike

Politics – It’s a French theorem: every school vacation period, there’s a SNCF strike. And his Senate bill to undermine it. Centrists in the Luxembourg Palace actually proposed this Wednesday, February 14, a text aimed at regulating the right to strike in the transport sector during certain periods such as school holidays.

a criterion” Protect the French », supported by Les Républicains and which serves as a response to the strong mobilization of SNCF controllers next weekend. Because while many trains have been cancelled… a section of the political class responds that it is linked to a sacred one “Freedom of Movement”.

” I note that once again, passengers of a major public service are held hostage in social negotiations. A strike should be the ultimate weapon

“, for example, lamented Senate President Gerard Larcher on BFMTV this Thursday, February 15. For that, the centrists’ bill would allow ” Nor does this right apply in situations where users are held hostage.

The subject is an Arlesian on the right. Last December, it was LR Senators boss Bruno Ritaleau who was already stepping up to ask. Guaranteed minimum service » In the middle of a social movement, and demanded “Demands of striking employees. »

“The subject has no right to strike, knowing that it is not being abused”

Asked about the issue this Thursday, Ecological Transition Minister Christophe Bechu – who also has transport under his control – did not want to react to the quality, preferring to go on about whether or not the government supports the framework for the right to strike. .

“Whenever we have a strike, we have an option to know whether we should legislate or not.”Christoph Bechu on Aam Sud Radio underlined, however, explained that it would be difficult “To avoid these questions” If “Certain Trade Union Organizations” Ga. “The point is not the right to strike, it’s knowing that we don’t abuse it”he insisted.

Concretely, the text presented on Wednesday by the centrists of the Senate this time plans to give the government 60 days of annual capital of the strike ban. “Staff of Public Transport Services”. The Executive may by order disburse this capital as he wishes within a limit of fifteen days per period of restriction, notwithstanding “Preliminary Negotiations”.

An unsuccessful attempt?

The proposed law, which is inspired by the system in place in Italy, explicitly targets school holiday periods, often targeted by unions to issue their strike notices and gain a more powerful sounding board for their demands.

“People who take the train are not just rich people who go skiing, they are people who are returning home, students, children of separated parents. This repeats itself and becomes unbearable”, argues RMC Hervé Marseille, president of the group presenting the proposal. He has promised to put it on the Senate agenda “as soon as possible”

With which outlet? As a reminder, the senatorial right – often on the initiative on the question of limiting the right to strike – already adopted a text in 2020 that aims “Ensure Effectiveness of Right of Transportation” By guaranteeing minimum service in case of strike. But ultimately he could not survive the ordeal of Parliament. Be careful while getting off the train.

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