“
You take the 4 direction Porte de Clignancourt, you get off at Strasbourg Saint-Denis and there it's a 15-minute walk.
The agents of the RATP dispatched this Thursday in the metro on the occasion of the day of strike on the Régie des transports parisiens have work.
With five lines completely closed and nine lines open only at peak times - but with many stations not served - it's a black day for Parisian travelers.
Like Julien, who is hurrying to catch a bus, they are also affected by the strike action by RATP drivers for wages.
“
I should have taken the metro but my usual route is impossible
”, breathes the thirty-year-old, crossed at the Châtelet station.
Sophie, user of RER A and line 4, says she left home a little earlier “out
of fear
”.
Good surprise, "
there are not too many people
", observes the official.
“
A lot of people have probably decided to telecommute
,” she supposes.
Before 8 o'clock, in the center of the capital, the metro like the RER did not seem more crowded than usual.
“A stronger demand” for hybrid bikes
For others, whose job cannot be telecommuted, there is no other choice than to use Ile-de-France transport.
Ferara, who makes the trip every day from the Somme department, reports leaving his home “
an hour earlier
” than usual.
"
At 4am instead of 5am
," says the worker.
Of the strike, the sexagenarian has little opinion.
"
There's nothing we can do about it
," he sighs before rushing into the RER A.
Marguerite, 65, is more casual.
"
I haven't changed my habits.
If I arrive late for work, too bad
”, slices the adviser in local mission, who groans against the forecasts of the RATP “
which change all the time
”.
Uber driver, Aymen, crossed around 6 a.m., foresaw "
stronger demand
" than usual.
If we are not quite Thursday morning in a situation without metro or RER called for by all the unions of the RATP, it is clear that the consequences are significant on the network.
The trade unions, very powerful within the group, justify these massive strikes by wages that are too low and working conditions that are deteriorating.
In addition, they consider their special pension scheme threatened by the reform that the government would like to see come into force next summer.
Read also59-minute strikes, cascading work stoppages ... The real reasons for the hassle of RATP users
The CGT alone on stage in the processions
At the direction of the RATP, it is ensured that the employees of the group have benefited from an average increase of 5.2% of their salary.
New wage negotiations will take place next December, under the leadership of the new CEO, former Prime Minister Jean Castex.
During a hearing at the National Assembly, the latter also affirmed that the group's human resources were "
the first subject on the table
" upon his arrival.
The situation is quite different on the side of the SNCF, at the start of a long weekend.
Only the CGT-Cheminots called to join the strike movement, which ultimately turns out to be poorly followed.
Consequently, traffic should be normal on the TGV lines and little impact on the Intercités lines.
As far as regional trains are concerned, 90% of traffic will be provided all day, with some disruptions on the Transilien lines in Île-de-France.
Demonstrations will take place throughout the day throughout France at the call of the CGT alone.
Force Ouvrière, FSU or Solidaires have finally decided not to follow in the footsteps of Philippe Martinez's movement.
In Paris, the authorities expect only 50,000 demonstrators in the procession which will leave at the beginning of the afternoon from the Place de la République to go to the Opera.
