The CGT-Cheminots, the leading union at SNCF, announced on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, the launch of a new strike call for several categories of railway personnel on June 4, 5, and 11, 2025. This move indicates the union's intention to continue mobilizing its members amid ongoing labor disputes.
The union has urged "all railway workers, of all trades, of all colleges to act by strike" on Thursday, June 5, 2025, as part of their efforts to pressure management into negotiations that address their demands. These demands include salary increases, agreements on professional training, additional jobs, and improvements in working conditions.
In addition to the strike on June 5, a movement is also planned for the day before, on June 4, specifically for train drivers. Similarly, controllers are called to strike on June 11, as indicated by the CGT. The union stated, "Our mobilizations allow us to loosen the stranglehold that management wanted to impose on us," highlighting the urgency of their demands.
Earlier this week, the CGT-Cheminots had already called all categories of personnel to mobilize starting Monday, May 5, 2025. Meanwhile, the SUD-Rail union announced a strike for drivers on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, and for controllers for the weekend starting Friday, May 9, 2025.
As of now, the strike has led to localized disturbances for regional trains, particularly in the Île-de-France and Hauts-de-France regions, while TGV services have remained almost normal. The union's actions reflect a broader discontent among workers regarding pay and working conditions.
Despite the ongoing strike actions, there has been some criticism regarding the effectiveness of the mobilizations. Fabien Villedieu, the federal secretary of SUD-Rail, expressed disappointment over the limited impact of the strikes this week. He stated, "There is a desire to completely invisibilize the conflict," pointing to the challenges faced by unions in garnering support.
The SUD-Rail union had called for conductors to strike on May 7, with controllers set to join the action over the weekend. According to estimates, around 40% of train drivers participated in the strike on Wednesday, May 7, with the most affected regions being Île-de-France, where one in two trains was canceled, and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, where only four out of ten TER trains were in operation.
In response to the strike, SNCF has implemented measures to mitigate disruptions, including the use of "volontaires accompagnement occasionnel" (VAO), who are trained staff stepping in to cover for striking controllers. These individuals receive just seven days of training and are paid between €15 and €50 per hour, depending on the type of service they provide.
Critics of this approach, including Villedieu, have labeled these replacements as "archi under-trained and archi overpaid," arguing that it is unacceptable to use management staff in such a manner. The union has expressed intentions to challenge this practice legally.
As the situation develops, the CGT-Cheminots remains committed to its cause, having already announced a new day of mobilization for June 5, 2025. Despite the setbacks, union leaders assert that the anger among workers remains strong and that further actions will follow.
In summary, the CGT-Cheminots' latest strike calls reflect ongoing tensions within the SNCF as workers demand better pay and working conditions. While the current strikes have generated some disruptions, the union's leadership believes that their efforts are essential for achieving meaningful negotiations with management.
