SNCF STRIKE. The SNCF inter-union calls for “a powerful strike” Thursday, January 19, 2023 against the pension reform. Strong disruptions are expected on the rail network, and other strikes are planned.
[Mis à jour le 15 janvier 2023 à 17h00] Like many other sectors, the transport sector is in battle order in the face of the pension reform presented on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, by the government of Elisabeth Borne. The inter-union of the SNCF, composed of the CGT Cheminots, the Unsa-Ferroviaire, SUD-Rail and the CFDT Cheminots, has thus filed a strike notice for Thursday, January 19. This notice covers, in detail, the period from Wednesday January 18 at 7 p.m. to Friday January 20 at 8 a.m. In a communicated published the day after the presentation of the reform, the inter-union called for “a powerful strike” next Thursday, to protest against a “completely unfair” bill against which it is in “total opposition”.
The inter-union of the SNCF sees in this day of Thursday January 19 a “first day of strikes and interprofessional demonstrations” against the pension reform. Other days of strikes could therefore take place after next Thursday. At the microphone of RMC Friday, January 13, Fabien Villedieu, SUD-Rail union representative, thus warned that “the fight will be long”. “If I understood correctly, there will be two months of discussions on the law. We are not leaving for a renewable strike. On the 20th, there will surely be trains. Things are evolving,” he said. it however nuanced. But, in another interview on BFM TV the next day, the union representative nevertheless affirmed that “if we want to be heard, we must put the country on hold”.
The day of January 19 will be decisive in deciding on the follow-up to be given to the movement within the SNCF. “We will decide according to the extent of the mobilization”, declared Didier Mathis, secretary general of Unsa-Ferroviaire, according to comments reported by BFM TV. In any case, trade unionists seem ready to mobilize over long periods of time. “I am ready to go on strike for 60 days to bring down this unjust reform”, declared Matthieu Bolle-Reddat, general secretary of the CGT Cheminots de Versailles, on the set of the news channel continuously.
The disruptions planned for the TGV, TER and Intercités will be communicated between 24 and 48 hours in advance. But, as pointed out to TF1 News the deputy secretary general of the CFDT-Cheminots, Sébastien Mariani, the objective is “of course” that of “zero transport” for next Thursday. More than the SNCF, it is the whole of the transport sector which should experience a black day. Other unions have indeed called for mobilization. This is particularly the case for the unions of the RATP, FO-Transports and logistics, bus drivers and cash carriers.
SNCF users can quickly check the traffic situation and find out if a particular train has been canceled or is leaving late. For information on TGVs, the telephone number provided is 0 805 90 36 35. To follow traffic on all major or medium-sized lines (TGV, Intercités, TER), go to this page of the SNCF. For information on the Transilien or RER in the Paris suburbs, call 0 805 90 36 35 or consult the dedicated platform.