Four SNCF trade unions signed an agreement put forward by French rail company SNCF on Thursday evening, thereby lifting all strike notices posted for the New Year weekend. This follows severe travel disruption after nearly a third of trains were cancelled over Christmas weekend.
SNCF workers will no longer disrupt train services from 30 December until 1 January.
The agreement “enacts strong measures for a real recognition of the profession of train guards,” the SNCF said. “All conditions are now met for chief conductors to return to work.”
Despite this agreement, “disturbances will remain unchanged for this weekend.” Passengers who have their train cancelled will receive a 200% reimbursement of the value of their ticket. The French rail strikes are set to cost the SNCF “several tens of millions of euros,” according to CEO of SNCF Voyageurs Christophe Fanichet.
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SNCF recently conceded to the train guards’ demands for higher wages, offering a €600 bonus and a 5.9% salary increase. Strikes went ahead as the unions missed the deadline to accept the company’s offer.
