- The CGT, Solidaires, the FSU and several youth organizations are calling for a day of actions and strikes on September 17 to protest against the government's policy.
- A call relayed in particular this Friday by the CGT federation of railway workers, suggesting disruptions in transport.
- It remains to be seen whether this movement will really be followed, in the context of the health crisis and after weeks of costly mobilizations last winter, against the pension reform, according to historian Stéphane Sirot, specialist in trade unionism.
The date was announced in July. On September 17, the CGT invites a "day of action, strike and demonstrations", joined by the Solidarity unions, the Unitary Union Federation (FSU) as well as youth movements. Their demands are aimed at a "deep break": fight against precariousness and poverty, increase in wages, development of public services and definitive abandonment of the pension reform.
A call that the CGT-Cheminots relayed, filing last Friday a strike notice, valid from September 16 at 8 p.m. until September 18 at 7.55 a.m. Saturday, the announcement caused a reaction on France Interthe Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire: "What is this SNCF strike for, what are the objectives?" Why is the CGT calling for a strike? ".
"I find it hard to understand that we are launching a strike call at the SNCF when we have just extinguished 35 billion euros in SNCF debts and everyone knows (...) that there will be in the stimulus plan (…) massive investments in rail transport ”, he reacted. Prime Minister Jean Castex has promised a revival of rail freight, which is currently concentrating the concerns of unions at SNCF.
Mobilizations in certain areas
But this notice is part of a broader context of inter-professional mobilization which reflects the desire of the CGT to “return to the front of the social scene”, after the period of confinement, explains Stéphane Sirot, specialist in social movements. In such a context, "the federation of railway workers could hardly not call for mobilization on its side," he continues, especially since "one can think that it is in this sector that there is will have more mobilizations ”.
The weight of the CGT is far from being negligible among the railway workers: following the last professional elections, it represents nearly 38% of the votes. Sud-Rail - which has not submitted a notice yet - weighs 19.29% of the vote. The probabilities of disruption of traffic will exist in particular in sites where they are strongly established. "In large depots with a strong influence from the CGT or the South, as in certain Parisian stations or in the south of France, we will undoubtedly have a more significant mobilization", estimates Stéphane Sirot.
A "complicated" health context
However, it is not certain that the appeal will result in significant disruption. “We should see how the call was relayed in the field, continues the professor at the University of Cergy-Pontoise. The health context, unprecedented, can also complicate, according to him, the mobilizations: "We must not forget that the railway workers went on strikes for weeks, not long ago". And this, without succeeding in making the government abandon its pension reform project.
Another element that detracts from this mobilization: reformist unions such as Unsa-Rail (26.76% representativeness) or CFDT-Cheminots (15.96%) do not join this movement. “There are subjects of discontent at the SNCF, but the time has come for a rebound, for the revival of our industry and everyone makes their choices. But in view of the health context, it is still complicated to go on strike, ”comments a union official.
A slogan too abstract
As for the specter of pension reform, which is not abandoned, it is not likely for the moment to trigger a massive movement equivalent to that of last winter. "It is a reason for strike, but it is still very distant, compared to all that is happening", continues the same railway unionist.
“For a dynamic to be strong, we have to go from virtual to real. If announcements are made, that can trigger anger, explains Stéphane Sirot. But insofar as the pension reform process has not yet resumed, it remains virtual ”. According to the historian, mobilizing on the economic and social consequences of the crisis, as these unions do for September 17, "remains relatively unclear for most people."
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- SNCF strike
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