Paris (AFP)
The SNCF promises a clear improvement in rail traffic on Monday, with limited disruption to the TER and Intercités, without the conflict between unions and management on "security problems" is resolved.
Ouigo trains, whose traffic was very disrupted during the weekend, "will circulate normally", as well as the TGV, according to the forecasts communicated by the SNCF Sunday evening. Normal circulation also on all lines of the Transilien network.
Only the TER, with three trains out of four, and the Intercités (two trains out of three) will continue to be impacted, on the fourth day of this fight between unions and management around the "right of withdrawal".
The president of the SNCF, Guillaume Pepy, recalled Sunday evening on Franceinfo that the tickets would be refunded "100%", specifying that it also concerned those normally non refundable. He announced the rapid establishment of a compensation fund of one million euros for travelers who suffered "exceptional damage", including those who had to buy other tickets or to stay in the hotel.
At the origin of the movement, an accident occurred Wednesday night, when a TER connecting Charleville-Mezieres to Reims hit an exceptional road convoy stuck on a level crossing in the Ardennes, making 11 wounded including hospitalized. The driver, who rescued passengers while he himself was injured, was the only SNCF agent on the train.
Unions question this mode of operation, which allows for the circulation of trains without a controller, suggesting security risks for travelers. They also point to safety issues specific to the accident craft, a high capacity railcar (MLS).
At a meeting in the night from Friday to Saturday, the management put on the table three proposals that did not satisfy the trade unions: modification of "some equipment" of the AGC; setting up working groups on safety procedures "in the coming days" and "acceleration" of recruitments, Guillaume Pepy summarized on Saturday.
He also denounced a "surprise strike that does not respect the law", since the SNCF notice is required.
For the unions, on the contrary, it is a right of withdrawal, a procedure exercised by an employee when he considers that his work situation poses a grave and imminent danger to his life and health, or if he notes a defect in the protection systems.
- "Bridges for a dialogue" -
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe denounced a "diversion of the right of withdrawal that has turned into a wildcat strike" and "asked the SNCF to examine all the possible follow-up, including judicial". The Secretary of State for Transport, Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, estimated that the SNCF could impose individual sanctions and bring to justice.
"Right of withdrawal or no right of withdrawal, what matters is to get out of this situation in the interest of the user, the taxpayer," reacted Sunday on BFM TV Benoît Simian, MP LREM and former senior official human resources at SNCF.
"The new president of SNCF takes office on November 1st, it will be up to him to recreate bridges for a dialogue," he added about Jean-Pierre Farandou, who will succeed Guillaume Pepy.
In the meantime, the unions are working on what to do next.
The Unsa (2nd SNCF union) will organize meetings internally this Monday "to decide the strategy to adopt," said Didier Mathis, its number one. But he immediately rejects the idea of filing a strike notice to defend the case.
SUD-Rail (3rd union) "will continue to support the railway workers who will exercise the right of withdrawal because the management does not propose anything concrete for safety", according to Julien Troccaz.
The CGT (1st trade union) linked in a statement Saturday the demands and called to participate "massively" in the day of action of December 5 against the pension reform, adding "business topics, including security" . The union accuses the prime minister of wanting "rot".
© 2019 AFP