The SNCF controllers’ strike must end this Sunday, February 18 after disrupting this winter holiday weekend, with the cancellation of one in two TGVs. The SNCF estimated that 150,000 travelers, out of the million who were supposed to travel, were unable to take their train during the three days of strike.
Train traffic has been “severely disrupted” by a strike by controllers since Thursday 8 p.m. and until Monday at 8 a.m., the railway company warned. The movement was very popular with three out of four controllers on strike over salary increases.
150,000 travelers impacted
The customers concerned have all been notified by email or SMS, assures the SNCF, and can be reimbursed if their train has been canceled. This weekend sees the first returns from zone C (Paris, Montpellier and Toulouse) but also departures from zone A (Lyon, Bordeaux, Dijon, etc.), and the SNCF has favored connections to the ski resorts of the Alps where trains were full in both directions.
Certain train lines were more affected by the strike, such as Paris-Bordeaux where two thirds of trains were canceled on Saturday. There should be more trains on this Atlantic axis this Sunday, warned TGV Atlantique boss Franck Dubourdieu. If some customers change their ticket to travel on Monday, “we will be able to transport everyone,” he assured Friday.
Agreement on end of career
Some travelers on the Paris-Lyon line fell back on the trains of the railway company Trenitalia which were 8% more full than last year. The Blablacar platform has observed a “doubling of the demand for reservations” for carpooling and coaches since the announcement of the SNCF transport plan on Wednesday. On the roads, traffic jams were observed in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes when approaching ski resorts, but also in the Paris region. Sunday should be calmer on the road network, according to Bison futé.
The striking unions are mobilized because they believe that the agreement to end the crisis negotiated at the end of 2022 – where a strike on the Christmas weekend left 200,000 travelers in the lurch – is slow to be implemented. They also demand a renegotiation of the agreement on the end of career. “The company’s commitments which were made in December 2022 are being met”, particularly on additional positions, replied the boss of SNCF Voyageurs.
Possible movement of the switchers
After the controllers, it could be the turn of the switchers to be on strike next weekend: the Sud Rail union has filed notice for Friday February 23 and Saturday February 24. The switchers are demanding a salary increase of 300 euros per month and massive hiring in order to benefit from better working conditions.
Negotiations are underway with management, who say they are not worried about this next move. “I am confident that, next weekend, all the TGVs will be running,” declared Christophe Fanichet, the boss of SNCF Voyageurs.
But to the switchers could be added… the controllers, again? The Sud-Rail union poses a threat. “Next weekend, we will be on strike if management does not come to us,” Vincent Pinot, federal secretary of the Sud-Rail union, declared this Sunday on BFMTV. “Since the strike notice was filed on January 31,” we have had “no contact with management,” lamented the trade unionist.