Traffic in Paris is still quiet during Christmas Day and the trains around the country are just as similar, as the strike in France does not take Christmas break. Those who strike are workers who work with public transport and are expected to be hit hard by the new pension reform proposed by President Manuel Macron.

Costs companies billions

The strike, which is now in its twentieth day, has hit the national rail company SNCF hard financially. In an interview with the French newspaper Le Monde, the newly appointed CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou now says about what the strike, which has been going on since December 5, costs the company.

- We now have EUR 400 million (over SEK 4 billion) in lost income during this period, says Farandou.

But Farandou is positive and also says that there is now a good opportunity for negotiation and expects the strike to be resolved soon as the rules in pension reform for the train staff are now clarified.

- All solutions for train employees are now on the table, says Farandou.