The union denounces a lack of staff, particularly affecting maintenance agents, train controllers and driving staff.
The shortage of SNCF drivers and maintenance agents once again arouses the exasperation of the unions. Although the Minister of Transport, Clément Beaune, has promised to “accelerate training and recruitment“, the employees are exhausted and try to be heard.
It all starts with the launch of the Strasbourg RER, the REME, scheduled for December 12. “This is excellent news in a context of inflation and loss of purchasing power. We fully support this project“says Régis Hoffmann. But “the problem of the lack of personnel does not make it possible to absorb the increase in the workload“Linked to this initiative, nuance the secretary general CFDT Grand Est railway workers.
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In terms of staffing,a minimum of 1/3 of maintenance workers and about 80 train drivers are missing“, underlines the trade unionist. The driving staff is also affected by this shortage and the “traffic cops are on the razor’s edge“, he warns.
Discussions are therefore underway between the CFDT Cheminots and the SNCF, but for the trade union organization, “the company hides in the sand when it is responsible for the chaos it has created“. If no agreement is reached between the two parties, Régis Hoffmann does not rule out a strike which would be launched around December 12, the date of the implementation of the Strasbourg RER. “This would be a massive move as everyone is fed up with it and it could last for several weeks“Warns the Secretary General. Would the end-of-year celebrations be disrupted in this way? Contacted, the SNCF did not come back to us. Answer within a few days, therefore, at the end of the negotiations.