December train strikes called off

THERE will be no train strikes over the Christmas and New Year weekends, says the head of the SNCF.

Strikes over the next four weekends had been called by the Fgaac-CFDT union, which represents about a quarter of train drivers. SNCF boss Guillaume Pépy said they had worked out a deal with union leaders.

All trains will therefore definitely be running, says the SNCF in a statement, confirming promises made by Mr Pépy earlier.

It comes after discussions were held on working conditions, and agreements made to continue negotiations, the statement said.

Several other SNCF workers’ unions had condemned the decision of the Fgaac-CFDT to call unilateral strikes through the festive period.

The controversy comes at a delicate time for the SNCF, with new train timetables coming in this weekend, aiming to have more trains leaving at standardised times, eg. 7.08, 7.38, 8.08, 8.38 etc. This weekend also sees the firm’s first competitor on the French passenger railways, Thello, begin services between France and Italy.

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