The 7th, 8th, 11th… When will the strikes take place during the February holidays? The unions are leaning towards several options.
If it’s not too late to make your complaints following the Christmas strike, it’s time to prepare for those of next week. Parents have to adapt between children and telework. Ski holidays could be compromised. And on the transport side, disruptions are also expected.
This Wednesday, the SNCF and RATP unions launched one or more calls for mobilization, starting on February 7. The CGT and Sud-Rail of the SNCF call for a 48-hour strike on February 7 and 8, but the consensus is only made on the first day. There is even debate about the second date, February 11, a date of departures on vacation and traditional crossover. On the sidelines during the demonstrations of 2019 and 2020, the CFDT Cheminots says this time that it is “fully in line with the calendar and the strategy defined by the inter-union and calls for massive mobilization through strike and demonstration on Tuesday February 7 then on Saturday 11”, can we read in The echoes.
For its part, Unsa Ferroviaire would lean towards a strike on 7 but a simple call for mobilization on 11to avoid inconveniencing customers too much, and is not in favor of a multi-day strike: “It’s not a sprint, it’s a half marathon. For the employees, it is better to wait before losing days and purchasing power”, according to Didier Mathis, the general secretary of the union, who plans to sound out his base in order to decide.
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What strikes are expected next week?
For Sébastien Mariani, Deputy Secretary General of the CFDT Cheminots, the rejection of the reform is unanimous, despite these differences of opinion on the methods of action. The union would therefore focus on its first dates but filed a “precautionary” strike notice until March 31.
The first day of strike mobilized 36.5% of the workforce and then fell 10 points on Tuesday. SNCF executives do not know if the strikers will go into renewable mode. In 2019, the movement was continuous, unlike the strikes of 2018 against the railway reform, which had opted for sequences of two strike days and three working days. This year is getting closer to 2010 with a mixture of large demonstrations and strikes.
For users of the metro in Paris, the RATP does not seem to be heading towards a renewable strike. The eight main unions are heading for a mobilization on February 7 and 11. This Tuesday, the lines operated at idle, but the trams and buses were less affected.
Unions rely on a broadening of the mobilization to new segments of the population, especially those who would be more willing to demonstrate on Saturdays.