{"id":52548,"date":"2024-05-24T20:12:44","date_gmt":"2024-05-24T10:12:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=52810"},"modified":"2024-05-24T20:12:44","modified_gmt":"2024-05-24T10:12:44","slug":"french-opposition-leader-calls-for-privatisation-of-sncf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=52548","title":{"rendered":"French opposition leader calls for privatisation of SNCF"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following another day of disruptive strike action earlier this week over the payment of bonuses during the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer, the leader of one of France\u2019s leading opposition political parties has called for the privatisation of SNCF. This initiative would, according to them, ensure more fair competition.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>In an interview with French TV news channel, BFMTV, \u00c9ric Ciotti, president of the Republican party, took a swipe at the state-owned railway company: \u201cThere hasn’t been a year since 1947 when SNCF hasn’t been on strike\u201d. He went on to accuse labour unions of blocking \u201cthose who work.\u201d Ciotti intends to table a bill in the French Assembly to privatise SNCF. \u201cEnough is enough. This company (SNCF) needs to be subject to competition, and there needs to be freedom\u201d.<\/p>\n

Also read: The Italian government wants to privatise FS Group<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

A new, privileged deal was also a detonator<\/h2>\n

He also denounced the recent agreement between SNCF\u2019s management and unions on an early retirement scheme, describing it as \u201can absolute scandal\u201d. Signed at the end of last month, it gives SNCF staff a better end-of-career deal than under previous provision. The new deal is widely seen in France as a way of \u2018buying\u2019 industrial relations peace and offsetting the risk of strikes during this summer\u2019s Olympic and Paralympic Games in which SNCF, as a transport provider, is a key partner.<\/p>\n

It is due to come into force at the start of next year and is particularly beneficial to SNCF staff who occupy physically-demanding jobs. When news of the early retirement agreement broke, it triggered severe criticism from France’s Finance and Economic Affairs minister, Bruno Le Maire<\/a>, who said he believed it circumvented a 2023 French pension reform law. It led to SNCF chief, Jean-Pierre Farandou, being summoned to the French Senate to explain the deal.<\/p>\n

\u2018Good luck with that\u2019, says outgoing SNCF boss<\/h2>\n

Farandou is stepping down<\/a> from his post at the end of the Games. Responding to Ciotti\u2019s privatisation proposal, he quipped: \u201cGood luck with that.\u201d Meanwhile, France\u2019s Transport minister, Patrice Vergriete, slammed this week\u2019s strike as \u201cunacceptable. Negotiations cannot be tantamount to a threat to sabotage an event of national interest such as the Olympic Games.\u201d<\/p>\n

Industrial action has nevertheless led to SNCF improving its bonus offer to workers during the Games, increasing extra, daily payments from 50 euros to 95 euros up to a maximum of 1,900 euros over a 20-day period. The unions have until June 4 to make their decision on the offer.<\/p>\n

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SNCF’s outgoing boss, Jean-Pierre Farandou. Image: Shutterstock. \u00a9 Obatala-photography<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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