However, the Minister is not in favor of a minimum service. “It would mean that you forbid some people to strike. It is very framed by our Constitution”, he underlined.
Better to avoid taking public transport on Thursday, the first day of mobilization against the pension reform. This is essentially the message that Clément Beaune sent on Tuesday who, despite this difficult situation for users, does not plan to bring the question of minimum service back to the table. “It will be a Thursday of hassle, of strong disruption in transport“warned the Minister Delegate for Transport on France 2.
“I say this for those who can (…): anything that allows you to move forward or delay a trip compared to Thursday, to telecommute when possible, is welcome“, he added. At the SNCF, the unions are calling for “a powerful strike” this Thursday, January 19, while in Ile-de-France transport, the CGT of the RATP hopes “reach “zero transport”“. “I don’t think we will be in a zero transport situation“, wanted to reassure Clément Beaune.
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The Italian example
Asked about the advisability of strengthening the Minimum Service Act of 2007, the Minister of Transport seemed to dismiss this idea. While he acknowledged that the law passed under Sarkozy’s five-year term did not provide for a minimum circulation of trains – but only a predictable service for users, in particular by obliging agents to notify their intention to participate in a strike 48 hours at the advance -, this Walker of the first hour highlighted the constitutionality of the right to strike. “A minimum service would mean that you prohibit some people from going on strike. It is very framed by our Constitution. It’s normal, the right to strike was a social conquest, it must not be diverted“, he specified.
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On the other hand, Clément Beaune was in favor of alternative measures to improve the situation of users during a strike. “There can be discussions on preserved periods, on more anticipation, on reserves of people who can be mobilized when there is a strike. I believe much more in that than in a form of slogan“, he added. According to the Minister,it’s more pragmatic to do as the Italians did, for example“, that is to say, “preserve certain periods of departure on vacation, for example“, he estimated.