French rail unions demand a national day of protest

FRENCH rail unions yesterday called for a national protest day next month over plans to end rail workers’ “privileged” status, in the latest test of President Emmanuel Macron’s reformist mettle.

The call came as Mr Macron invited 1,000 farmers to the Elysée Palace next week in an attempt to quell unrest over agricultural reform.

The powerful CGT union called for a “national demonstration” on March 22 against a string of proposed changes to the cash-strapped SNCF national rail operator. March 22 has already been earmarked as a protest day among state sector workers against President Macron’s plans to shrink the civil service by 120,000 and introduce a vol- untary redundancy scheme.

“Is [the government] ready to enter a trial of strength with rail workers?” asked Laurent Brun, head of the Cgtcheminots, the rail arm of the union.

Some 92 per cent of the SNCF’S 150,000 staff enjoy “special status”, meaning they have a virtual job for life and many can retire aged between 50 and 55.

The report by Jean-cyril Spinetta, the former Air France chief, suggests leaving current employees with the special status but discontinuing it for new recruits.

It also suggests dividing the SNCF into two part-privatised entities, and raises the idea of the state taking on its €45 billion (£39.8 billion) debt.