the boss of the SNCF warns railway workers before a turbulent end of the year

TRANSPORT – Winter will be hot. On the social front, anger extends to many professions: farmers, civil servants, employees of Auchan and Michelin… The reasons are multiple, all linked to a gloomy economic situation, stagnant salaries, working conditions. which are deteriorating and a desire on the part of the government to tighten the screws a little more.

On Thursday, November 21, railway workers will be on strike to denounce the liquidation of Fret SNCF, which must be split into two entities. They demand the continuity of the public enterprise. This day of mobilization is described as “heating tower” by the unions, who intend to maintain the pressure and are already warning that they are ready to strike before Christmas if they do not win their case.

« Stay on the side of the French »

“The strike is avoidablewarns SNCF boss Jean-Pierre Farandou in an interview with the Tribune Sunday published this November 17. The French would not understand a long and hard strike in December for salary issues, they would not understand not being able to join their families to celebrate Christmas…”

Guillaume Pepy’s successor then draws a curious parallel, to say the least, between the mobilizations planned at the SNCF and “the complicated economic situation” that France is currently experiencing, “with social plans in companies, jobs threatened”. “This is why I say to the railway workers: stay on the side of the French! »he urges. A way of asking railway workers not to add to the difficulties of their compatriots.

The unions fear, with the end of Fret SNCF, a destabilization of the entire sector. The CGT, the Unsa, Sud or the CFDT, all denounce in a press release “the choice of the worst”while “ the climate emergency requires the development of rail ». But Jean-Pierre Farandou appeals “in the sense of responsibility of railway workers”.

Farandou firm on salary increases

Then speaking directly to his teams, the boss develops: “You were involved with the French during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. After the acts of sabotage in July, you showed them your ability to restore the network in a weekend. You were also there, during Covid, to run trains in difficult conditions and ensure health deliveries”.

As for salary increases, the former president of Keolis brushes aside the demands, assuring: “Over the past three years, we have protected wages beyond inflation. » According to him, the remuneration of railway workers increased by an average of 17% between 2022 and 2024, “and even 21% for low wages”.

A speech that might not be enough to convince, especially given the good health of the company, which is recording very good results. For the February holidays, Jean-Pierre Farandou is already looking forward to a “incredible success” : more than 1.3 million tickets were sold on the opening day of sales. So many places reserved in twenty-four hours, almost unheard of on the SNCF! “This is the third highest day in terms of number of tickets sold since the launch of SNCF Connect”welcomes the boss of the company, for whom “the transfer from the car to the train is confirmed”. Only problem: the price of tickets, which could increase again in 2025. Nothing has been decided, reveals Farandou, “but our costs are increasing. We have to pass some of this on to prices…” Enough to risk alienating the French?