Government reaction to railway workers in France: No strike at Christmas
In France, the government, right-wing and far-right parties reacted by asking controllers to return to their posts as train services were canceled after they went on strike.
Speaking to France Inter, government spokesman Olivier Veran said: “Frankly, I am not questioning the right to strike, the right of workers to demonstrate or take action, but is it necessary to do this on a weekend of Christmas? No, of course, you can’t go on strike at Christmas “. He reacted to him.
Veran called on the controllers to end their strike for Christmas.
Olivia Gregoire, Minister for Trade, Crafts and Tourism, said: “Some put their personal interests before those of the public.” She commented that the railway workers who went on strike would cause problems at Christmas celebrations.
REACTION OF THE RIGHTS TO THE STRIKERS
In a statement on Twitter, Valerie Boyer, a senator from the center-right Republicans (LR), said she was saddened and angry for the families who were unable to be together earlier in the year, arguing that the strike violated the continuity of service. public.
Bruno Retailleau, president of the LR group in the Senate, said: “The SNCF strikers should be ashamed for ruining Christmas with so many families. Only the richest will find a solution (for the trip) by plane. We will have to put an end to this situation where a few tens of people have blocked thousands of people.” he used the phrase.
Marion Marechal, the nephew of far-right politician Marine Le Pen, accused the SNCF administration of making concessions for the strike, in which Frederic Falcon, a deputy for the far-right National Unity (RN) party, used the phrase ” worthless to the French”.
“The unions and a handful of strikers took the entire French people hostage,” Marechal said. This is unbearable. I repeat, we must reform the French trade union system”. He reacted to the strike with his statements.
1 IN 3 TRAINS CANCELED
It was announced that 1 in 3 train services scheduled for Friday 23 December were canceled due to the train controllers’ strike in France.
It was indicated that approximately 200,000 of the 800,000 people expected to travel by train on the weekend would not be able to travel.
Immediately afterwards, the official railway company SNCF announced that passengers whose tickets were canceled would be refunded twice the price of the ticket.
Train controllers are demanding a pay rise and equal status to conductors. (AA)