Paris (AFP)
Traffic at the RATP will be "almost normal" Wednesday, despite a new day of inter-professional mobilization against the pension reform, announced Monday the RATP CEO Catherine Guillouard, who believes that the unlimited strike is "behind us".
"For Wednesday, at this stage, the level of strike declaration is very low compared to previous episodes. Traffic should therefore be almost normal," said Guillouard in an interview with the Parisian.
"The unlimited strike is behind us," she added, while the public transport authority in Paris experienced a strike movement of more than 50 days, with very disrupted traffic.
Unions opposed to the reform called for an eighth national interprofessional day on Wednesday, a meeting will also be held to decide on the continuation of the movement, which began on December 5.
For the patron of RATP, the unions of the company have obtained "concrete concessions", such as the so-called "Italian" clause on the calculation of acquired rights or even a long transition period. "Yes, the special schemes will be abolished, but the transition phase will be long, suitable, and respectful of the RATP social contract," said Guillouard.
She recalled that the strike cost the company about 200 million euros, even if its accounts "will stay in the green" in 2019, thanks to "sound management" during the year.
In addition, the mondedommagementnavigo.com website allowing users to request a refund for their subscription for the month of December will be effective "by the end of the week", she said.
She did not specify if a reimbursement was envisaged for the month of January, however affirming that "since January 13, our minimum service is assured on all the networks, including the subway".
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