Before the SNCF strike, « we are far from a dark week » tries to reassure one of the company’s bosses – Liberation

He promises « A week as normal as possible ». The CEO of SNCF Travelers, Christophe Fanichet, tried to reassure this Sunday 4 May in an interview with AFP before a week marked by Several calls for strike within the public group.

“We are far from a dark week. (…) Circulation will be normal from Monday 5 to Thursday May 8 on the TGV ”, He said, adding that for the controllers’ strike on May 9, 10 and 11, most trains will circulate. « If we have to cancel certain trains, we aim to offer each customer to travel on the day scheduled to their destination », promised Christophe Fanichet. Disturbances located on certain regional lines or in Ile-de-France are also to be expected, he warned.

Several categories of staff are called upon to strike from this Monday, May 5 by the CGT railroaders And Sud Rail to claim an increase in remuneration and better anticipation of the schedules, too often modified at the last minute according to them. For the May 8 bridge, a collective influential of controllers called National ASCT collective (CNA) joined the call for mobilization, giving it a magnitude.

Christophe Fanichet signed up for this « Let all customers be warned before leaving (on weekends, editor’s note) concerning their return train ”. « That is to say to be warned before the start of the bridge on Wednesday for circulation until Sunday, May 11, », he detailed.

« Even if we manage to transport everyone, customers may prefer to give up their trip (…). And so as such, now, all tickets can be exchanged, reimbursable, at no cost ”, On the Inoui TGVs like the Ouigo, for the week of May 5 to 11, announced Christophe Fanichet.

SNCF travelers’ boss also took the opportunity to scratch the unions, in the mode « it’s not us », saying that he gave « All his luck in social dialogue ». And this while the company refuses any new salary increase. “We heard and moved. (…) We will give readability on the weekly rest of TGV chiefs, at six months and no longer at three months ”, he promised. The highly criticized schedule management tool should also be adapted.

« On the other hand, we have clearly said that on remuneration, it would be no, because we did the job, more than 2.2 % (average increase) for 2025, it is much more than inflation, insisted the CEO. In May, 1,300 euros gross of profit -sharing will be paid to the 65,000 SNCF travelers agents, including the chiefs. So it’s more than 100 euros per month over the year, thanks to this profit -sharing. ”

« I said that one could not afford a strike and I confirm it, first because customers will try competition (carpooling or bus, or our railway competitors) and I do not want to give my customers the desire to go to see elsewhere », warned the manager.

« We already have thousands of less reservations for this May 8 bridge, SNCF Bashing in the debates and customers who will think twice for their next vacation », he listed, without wanting to quantify the shortfall for the company.