social conflict: the boss of the SNCF Guillaume Pepy on the spot – Le Parisien

days Guillaume Pepy at the head of the railway they are counted? Reportedly, the government appreciates only moderately moods and demands of the boss of the French railway.

Disavowed this week- end by the State, which has taken over the negotiations on working conditions at the SNCF to find a solution to the indefinite strike launched Tuesday night by the CGT-Cheminots, UNSA and SUD-Rail, Guillaume Pepy called the state of financial counterparties. The CEO of the SNCF considers impossible to prepare adequately its business to competition without improving the productivity of its railway. But the agreement reached between the Ministry of Transport and CFDT last Saturday endorsed the current working conditions of employees of the SNCF.

In return, Guillaume Pepy therefore asks the state to resume pay part of the debt of the railway, which reached a whopping € 50 billion. Not really the taste of power. “There are no negotiations have between management of the SNCF and the government,” it is argued on the side of the state. A tune followed by a condition very critical places: “The pattern traced for several months has not been followed. Before we take the hand, no line was written on the agreement that the company must conclude with the unions. “In short, as saying that the link between the state shareholder and CEO of the public company has never been more tenuous. Moreover, according to several informed sources, Guillaume Pepy did more than threaten to resign last weekend. “He submitted his resignation, but he was made to understand that we did not start in negotiations. “If both parties have left it until Monday to find an overall agreement, the points of convergence seem reduced. A crisis which epitomizes schizophrenia in which saw the French railway for decades.

“It’s very uncomfortable to lead the SNCF, summarizes a connoisseur of rail. We must constantly squirm because the state demand anything and everything: more Pharaonic investments to the all-TGV, and at the same time finance the renovation of the rail network aging, maintaining affordable prices without reducing quality service. And when he can gain some productivity, the state chose to sacrifice the future of the train to break the strike. “And this source to summarize:” Jacques Rapoport, head of SNCF network, resigned, including disagreement with the state. The government can not afford a new resignation at the company’s head. “

In the frameworks of the public company, in any case it is the soup grimace. “It seems to have worked for nothing and the State mortgage our future,” says one of them. Some decided yesterday to launch an online petition called Call of railway SNCF in government. It read in part: “If we do not improve our efficiency, so we have to reduce our workforce and enter a downward spiral. This story, other companies, such as SNCM recently lived it. “Last night, the petition had 882 signatures.