On the lines to Switzerland, only one train out of three is running, according to the French rail operator SNCF. Train conductors have stopped work throughout the weekend, with a “gradual resumption” envisaged Monday, to demand better recognition of their status.
The almost 10,000 conductors of the SNCF, of which nearly 3,000 work on the TGV and Intercity trains, have an essential function in terms of traffic and passenger safety. Without them, trains cannot run. Nearly 60% of TGV and Intercity trains have been cancelled.
“It is a strike that we did not see coming, neither we nor the unions,” said the CEO of the SNCF Jean-Pierre Farandou on Thursday. The conductors’ union had met with the management twice without concrete progress, before putting its threat of strike into execution.
The unions, in support of the conductors’ grievances, have filed a strike notice for the Christmas and New Year weekends to put pressure on the SNCF. This strike also comes before the start of mandatory annual salary negotiations between SNCF and the French rail unions, which begin Wednesday.
Popular Stories
More
Swiss Abroad
The citizenship obstacle course facing spouses of Swiss Abroad
This content was published on
The Ethos Foundation recommends that shareholders vote against all compensation-related items at the Annual General Meeting on March 7.
Top Swiss firms close to reaching gender quota in boards
This content was published on
The proportion of women on the boards of directors of the fifty largest listed companies in Switzerland currently stands at 28%.
Swiss committee wants to end government resignations during legislative term
This content was published on
Members of the Federal Council should no longer be able to leave office before the end of their term, according to a House of Representatives committee.
Swiss government seat: Ritter and Pfister nominated to succeed Amherd
This content was published on
Markus Ritter from St Gallen and Martin Pfister from Zug were officially nominated by the Centre Party on Friday to succeed Defence Minister Viola Amherd.
Top Swiss court rejects Russian request for administrative tax assistance
This content was published on
There is currently no reason to transmit banking information to the Russian Federation, the Swiss Federal Court has ruled.
After strike by radiologists, doctors demonstrate in Bern
This content was published on
Following a strike by radiology technicians in Fribourg, doctors, vets, dentists and chiropractors expressed their frustration on Friday outside parliament in the Swiss capital.
Eurovision and bleak world situation are top themes at Basel carnival
This content was published on
The Eurovision Song Contest and the gloomy global situation are among the main themes of Basel Fasnacht (carnival) this year.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.