Unions are waiting to see the mobilization of Thursday’s strike and the government’s response before deciding what to do next.
Should we prepare for a Black Thursday at SNCF? However, all elements are united for a strong mobilization with a rarely observed union unit (CGT, Unsa, SUD and CFDT) rejecting the government’s proposed pension reform en bloc.
The strike notice filed runs from Wednesday 18 January 2023 at 19:00 to Friday 20 January 2023 at 8:00.
If the traffic forecasts will be communicated by the SNCF the day before or the day before the strike, the unions want to mark spirits with a “punch day”. Train cancellations could therefore be numerous.
Because on the part of the train drivers, participation in the strike could be important. For Erik Meyer, federal secretary SUD-Rail, “it’s hot, not hot yet but it’s hot,” he tells us on Monday.
A testing ground for possible renewals after 19
The union intends to convince the drivers to carry out “a powerful strike” continues the manager.
The UNSA indicates “that it is still too early” to know “precisely” what the mobilization of the drivers will be. “But there will be” confides Didier Mathis, secretary general of UNSA-Ferroviaire.
For Sébastien Mariani, deputy secretary general of CFDT-Cheminots, the objective is “obviously” that of “zero transport” for next Thursday.
What about controllers (principal captains)? This time it is the collectives that seem to have the upper hand, such as the Collective ASCT at the origin of the very popular Christmas weekend strike organized on social media, outside the trade unions.
Their mobilization could depend on the extent of Thursday’s strikes. “I think we’ll have to wait for the day (Thursday) to get a taste of the rest,” a member of this collective slips to BFM Business.
Because the renewal of the movement is on everyone’s lips. Indeed, the SNCF unions met on Monday 23 January “to define the modalities of mobilization to come and build the conditions for the success of the movement for the reform withdrawal project”.
“If the government didn’t listen to the road rage on 19 January, the question of consequences will arise,” says Erick Meyer on BFMTV. “We will decide according to the size of the mobilization” confirmed Didier Mathis of Unsa-Ferroviaire.