The meetings with the unions continue, as well as the declarations and especially the convictions.
“I call on Jean-Pierre Farandou and the unions to find a solution in the coming hours to get out of this situation which exasperates a certain number of French people”, urged the Minister of Finance Bruno Le Maire this Thursday morning.
But can the controllers' strike be lifted before departures for the Christmas weekend?
There is little or no hope.
All eyes are therefore on the weekend of January 1st.
With the reinforcement of railway workers, the SNCF will be able to "transport three French people out of four" this weekend, welcomed Jean-Pierre Farandou, the CEO of the SNCF arrested by the minister.
On RTL, he says above all “sorry” for these disturbances.
“The right to strike is indisputable, but the right to travel to see your family is sacred.
I'm sorry, I apologize (…) I've seen strikes but not on the day of departures, it's not normal.
We do not understand this strike, there is no strike call from any union.
I can't understand, there is no social aggression, ”he assures.
SNCF strike: "We apologize to the French. I don't understand this strike"@JPFarandou, CEO of SNCF, guest of Yves Calvi in #RTLMatin pic.twitter.com/Tka1sbWeNk
– RTL France (@RTLFrance) December 22, 2022
Some 200,000 travelers must save their Christmas weekend after their trains were canceled due to a new strike by controllers.
On Wednesday evening, the SNCF announced a slightly degraded transport plan for Saturday and Sunday compared to the initial forecasts with two out of five TGVs removed – instead of one out of three initially.
Some axes will be more affected than others, such as the Atlantic axis or the North axis, with only one out of two TGVs.
"No reason to punish the French twice"
“I am meeting the unions personally tomorrow because we are not letting go of the matter to get out of this crisis,” insists the director.
But all eyes are already on New Year's Eve weekend.
“I appeal to the sense of responsibility of the TGV board captains on strike!
It's not too late for the weekend of January 1st, it is still possible to prevent the New Year's Day weekend from being ruined, there is no reason to punish the French twice" , he launched on RTL.
“There is a fight that must be fought hour by hour, it is to avoid major disruptions the following weekend, for the return from vacation.
We are working with Jean-Pierre Farandou so that this notice can be lifted, ”said Clément Beaune, the Minister of Transport on Franceinfo.
“This weekend, it is very disturbed.
But we have to save the next weekend.
(...) This strike is a disaster for many families.
The anger for many is very strong, and I understand it, ”reacted the minister.
Travelers whose train has been canceled will be able to change their ticket without paying the difference, but most of the maintained trains are full.
On the other hand, the SNCF promised on Wednesday to grant all travelers whose train was canceled a voucher equivalent to double the price of their ticket, in addition to full reimbursement of it.
This offer is valid for people who have successfully exchanged their ticket and will be accessible via an online form.
