Why regulators’ remuneration is at the center of social conflict

The railway company is proud to have significantly increased the remuneration of its conductors in recent years. Strikers condemn “false” information.

A war of communication between SNCF and some railway workers is in full swing. Ahead of Controllers’ Social Mobilization Week, which results “One of Two Trains” In circulation, on Friday 16, Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 February, the railway company condemned the strike call. “impossible”In the words of the CEO of SNCF Voyageurs. “Company’s commitments which were made in December 2022 are kept”Christophe Fanichet, on Tuesday, confirmed to franceinfo.

On the other hand, the striking unions believe that “SNCF plays public opinion against controllers to make them look like spoiled children”, SUD-Rail representative, one of the two unions calling the strike along with CGT-Caminots, franceinfo expresses grief to Fabian Villedieu. Two camps are particularly fighting over the income of Train Crew Chiefs or ASCTs (Train Commercial Service Agents).

Variations on increments of 500 euros over two years

Management highlights recent and significant upgrades in an attempt to discredit this social movement. “How can we increase the controllers by more than 11%, when they have a 500 euro increase in two years?”Tuesday pretended to question, on RTLCEO of SNCF, Jean-Pierre Ferrandeau.

“We can clearly see that adding increments is creating a problem.”

Jean-Pierre Ferrandau, CEO of SNCF

on RTL

“A total increase of 500 euros in two years for the controllers is completely wrong. All the controllers saw their pay slips and nobody saw it”, answers Fabien Villedieu. The management adds that the remuneration of railway workers has increased by an average of 17% in the last three years. “We had an eight-year pay freeze in the SNCF. We have to realize this 17% in eleven years”Removes the unionist.

“We have to put the 17% increase in parallel with inflation, which is 13% over three years. This puts the increase in perspective.”

Fabian Villedieu, SUD-Rail representative

at franceinfo

continued INSEE websiteWhich lists price increases each year, the cumulative inflation for the years 2021, 2022 and 2023 is 12.1%, slightly lower than the figure put forward by the trade union.

How much salary at the beginning of your career?

Unions particularly question the figures which show that captains earn around 3,000 gross per month at the start of their careers. “You start with around 2,000 euros gross on board in the TER, before the TGVs move into mid-career”, Fabien Villedieu summarizes. On the SNCF website, several controller job offers consulted by franceinfo on Thursday show an annual remuneration of between 24,000 and 32,000 euros, depending on the profile. “including variable elements”.

The railway company also boasts “Special benefits such as housing support including financial assistance, mutual insurance, almost free train travel, employee savings, work council…” On the other hand, recent statistics on average total remuneration in mid- and late-career are difficult to obtain. It amounted to 28,816 euros and 35,816 euros during the period 2012-2015, respectively, according to group data, excluding various returns of 25% and 19%. When contacted, SNCF Voyageurs did not respond to franceinfo’s questions.

Recent bonuses released by management

Apart from these extra-salary elements, the management of the railway company has, in recent days, emphasized the financial measures recently adopted in favor of the railway workers. She cites a bonus of 400 euros of value sharing (PPV) paid last December and another 400 euros that must be paid to all railway workers on March 1.

The group also highlights the development of housing allowance which “will allow more than 80% of ASCTs to sustainably earn an extra 50 euros per month or 600 euros per year”. This is paid to railway workers who live in areas where the real estate market is under pressure. Apart from these elements, SNCF “Profit sharing should increase to around 1,200 euros in May 2024”In the words of Alain Krakovich, CEO of TGV Intercités, in an internal letter to regulators Published by BFMTVlast week.

But these various bonuses are not commensurate with the increase in basic pay and work bonus, the two components of the controller’s pay, which are taken into account in the calculation of superannuation. This is why the striking crew chiefs are demanding an increase in their work bonus of 500 euros per month. “If there is a possibility of not going to the point of conflict, we are ready to negotiate from 150 to 200 euros” Increase, explains Fabian Villedieu at the beginning of the strike.