A major strike by French railway workers on Tuesday, brought significant parts of the country’s rail network to a halt.
According to reports, one in three TGV high-speed trains was cancelled, along with half of Intercités services and the majority of regional trains.
The country’s leading trade unions are demanding wage increases to compensate for inflation and a moratorium on further market liberalization.
The core grievance driving the action is the compulsory transfer of 27,000 SNCF employees to newly created private subsidiaries. Unions warn that the move could result in longer working hours, reduced rest periods, or dismissal for those who refuse the transfer.
Union representatives have highlighted what they describe as intense psychological pressure on staff. They report that 13 railway workers have taken their own lives since the beginning of the year, a figure they call unprecedented.
SNCF management maintains that the restructuring is unavoidable as part of ongoing market reforms, which are scheduled for completion by 2033.
The strike caused widespread disruption for passengers across France, with many services either cancelled or operating on reduced schedules. No immediate information was available on the duration of the industrial action or plans for further strikes.