(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #232 - Rail: An Act to accelerate privatization (fr)

Under the guise of reuniting SNCF and R?seau Ferr? de France (RFF), the current government 
has a policy that favors privatization and deteriorating working conditions. ---- The 
"rail seating" met in late 2011 had fallen on the announcement of a plan to reunify the 
rail system to improve its effectiveness, particularly in reinstating rail network of 
France (RFF) [ 1 ], " within a group hub of the railway sector . " Most former 
supporters of the creation of RFF Pepy in mind, led a strong push for this option, 
remained at the stage of a project vague. Since then, governments and management strive to 
convince the SNCF railway world of this pseudo-reintegration.

Unification or burst?
Behind these language elements, the bill does not go back on the privatization of the rail 
[ 2 ], but tends to accelerate! This is the train burst into three companies: one that 
would manage the infrastructure [ 3 ], which would provide another transport missions, the 
last called " parent institution "presented as THE ensuring integrated operation . The 
latter entity would not make any real prerogative and could quickly disappear after the 
example of what happens in Belgium, where the scheme was applied since 2005.

The separation between infrastructure and transport activities, in addition to divide the 
railway social body, aims to develop structures that can easily be privatized. Despite 
what the ultra-liberals who denounce maintaining a monopoly SNCF, the capitalists can rub 
their hands the government is preparing a massive influx of the private passenger 
transport, particularly by allowing regions to assign traffic TER private companies.

In addition, the bill is allowed to stand the entire debt of the railway SNCF. This debt 
of over 35 billion euros, resulting essentially political choices land should be paid only 
by the railway and railway workers, which means "moderate" wage and job cuts!

Challenging working conditions
Finally, the structural reform announced a challenge to all working conditions since 
through a "harmonious social framework," the government is considering a collective 
agreement applicable to public and private companies. This re-front case, in particular 
the organization of working time in the station exists today, is unacceptable.

All these issues have resulted in a first day of strike called by the CGT, Sud-Rail, Unsa 
and CFDT June 13. This day of action, the largest since the strikes against pension reform 
of 2010 is encouraging for the future. But the CFDT and Unsa provide critical support to 
this reform and the CGT refused any unitary approach with South Rail. The difficulties to 
drive a framework for mobilization are real. It remains to find the most effective 
strategy to launch a dynamic general meetings of railway workers and railway that allows 
to wear a mobilization up to the attacks!

Mathieu (AL St-Denis)

[ 1 ] RTS was created in 1997, marking the first step in the dismemberment of the SNCF. 
Only federations South Rail and CFDT have from the outset opposed its creation, 
consolidated by the PCF Gayssot Minister from 1997 to 2002.

[ 2 ] Opening of freight traffic to competition since 2006, some passenger traffic since 
2011, subcontracting massive ...

[ 3 ] Maintenance of Way, management and referral services currently positions at RFF.