Unions accuse SNCF management of employing 'scab workers' in response to industrial action; management refutes the allegations.
Weekend Bliss Despite Rail Strikes: Here's How SNCF Is Pulling It Off
📸 Kevin Comte By Alexis Fargeaudoux Published on
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Looks like there's no need to worry about travel plans this weekend of May 8! Despite the intense union action led by CGT-Cheminots and SUD-Rail, SNCF Voyageurs has found a way to keep the disruption minimal. A whopping 90% of trains will be running during the weekend as the operator has ingeniously developed a solution to navigate the strike.
So, how did SNCF manage to keep things running smoothly? According to BFM TV, the company has mobilized volunteer managers from its ranks to step in for the striking controllers. These managers hail from various fields such as finance, HR, and communication, and have been trained to take on the responsibilities of a train captain. Reports suggest that there are several hundred of these trusty reserves, a move that hasn't entirely pleased the trade unions.
The unions have voiced their disapproval, branding these managers as so-called "scab workers." They argue that these managers are being forced to cross the picket lines, and they're paid a good sum of €50 per hour for their efforts over the weekend. Julien Troccaz, federal secretary of Sud Rail, expresses concerns, stating that the company is attempting to quell the anger of the railway workers by any means necessary. Fabien Villedieu, Sud Rail union delegate, adds his two cents, denouncing these "mercenary scab workers" as "people who are over-trained and overpaid."
A Jab From the Unions: Is a Railroad Worker's Salary Really That Sweet?
A Quick Course or Rushing Through Training?
Sophie Binet, the general secretary of the CGT, criticizes the management of SNCF Voyageurs for what she perceives as a cynical use of management. She argues that managers are being coerced into replacing striking workers or risk facing consequences themselves. She emphasizes that the pressure these managers are facing is unacceptable.
The unions estimate that the training provided to managers is too fast-paced, potentially compromising the safety of passengers. Management of SNCF vehemently denies this, insisting that the safety of passengers remains a top priority.
It's worth noting that the mobilization of managers to fill in during social conflicts isn't exactly a new strategy at the SNCF, a source told BFM TV. The perk for these managers is that they gain hands-on experience with the realities of the work on the ground.
The management of SNCF continues to stress that this experience will allow these managers to fully grasp the true nature of the work. But these claims have rekindled the fiery debate between management and unions, with questions being raised about the ethics of this practice, wages, and overall working conditions.
- The SNCF, amidst the rail strikes led by CGT-Cheminots and SUD-Rail, has managed to keep 90% of trains running by mobilizing volunteer managers from its ranks, normally situated in fields like finance, HR, and communication.
- These managers have been trained to take on the responsibilities of a train captain, overseeing operations during the weekend strike, for which they receive €50 per hour, a fact that has not been welcomed by the unions.
- The unions, such as Sud Rail and CGT, have criticized SNCF for using management as a replacement for striking workers and for rushing training, which they argue could compromise passenger safety.
- This strategy of using managers during social conflicts is not new to the SNCF, with sources suggesting that it provides these managers with hands-on experience of the realities of the work on the ground.
- The ongoing debate between management and unions continues, with questions being raised about the ethics of this practice, wages, and overall working conditions in the transportation industry, particularly in light of recent events.
