The impasse continues. The shipping company Corsica Linea (ex-SNCM), three ships of which have been blocked since Friday by striking sailors from La Méridionale in the port of Marseille, announced on Tuesday the cancellation of all its crossings to Corsica on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. "Our crossings are currently undergoing heavy disruption, due to the cumulative effect" of "the strike of the sailors of La Méridionale" and the "blocking of the port of Marseille, from 15 to 17/01/2020, as part of the movement national protest against the pension reform, "the company said in a statement.
Consequently, the company cancels a total of 18 crossings on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the rate of six crossings per day: four from Marseille to different Corsican ports and two from Ajaccio and Bastia to Marseille. Tickets will be refunded, the company said. A scheduled crossing from Algiers to Marseille on Wednesday is also canceled and passengers are reclassified on the next crossing scheduled for next Monday.
A seven-year contract at stake
The Union of Corsican Workers (STC) and the CFTC of La Méridionale, who have called for a strike and the blocking of Corsica Linea boats, request the conclusion of an agreement between their company and Corsica Linea to share the future service of five Corsican ports from Marseille from January 2021 for seven years.
This service must be done within the framework of a regional shipping company wanted by the nationalists at the head of the Collectivity of Corsica which will be based on a public-private partnership within the framework of a mixed economy company with single operation ( semop).
This company will be owned 50.1% by the Collectivity of Corsica (CdC) and 49.9% by a private shareholder. The private operator (or group of operators) will be selected during a public call for tenders, the applications for which must be submitted by 14 February at the latest. The conclusions will be brought before the Corsican Assembly in July.
"Oil on fire"
In a press release, the CEO of La Méridionale, Marc Reverchon, assured Tuesday evening that "a dialogue resumed from yesterday between La Méridionale and Corsica Linea" around a "common industrial project". He proposed to Corsica Linea that in the future collaboration, La Méridionale, which has three ships, "reduce the number of boats serving Corsica to two provided that they are shared on the lines of Bastia and Ajaccio with Corsica Linea ”. "An agreement on these bases will put an end to the deadlock situation," he said.
In the six-year public service delegation (DSP) that ended in 2019, the Corsica Linea, formerly SNCM, and La Méridionale, belonging to the logistics group Stef, were allies and shared the five routes. Contacted by AFP, Pierre-Antoine Villanova, the director general of Corsica Linea said he was "frightened by the content of the words" of Mr. Reverchon which "in no way reflect the discussions that took place today". "I regret once again the unhealthy attitude of Mr. Reverchon who only adds fuel to the fire and makes his sailors and shareholders believe that a solution is being found on the bases that he mentions, "he added.
Economy
Pension reform: Corsica Linea cancels its ships between Marseille and Algiers
- Pension reform
- Strike
- Society