REPORTAGE – Traffic is very badly disrupted on the lines of the RATP this Thursday, November 10. But the precautions taken by each other have greatly reduced attendance.
«You take the 4 direction Porte de Clignancourt, you get off at Strasbourg Saint-Denis and there it is 15 minutes on foot.The agents of the RATP dispatched this Thursday in the metro on the occasion of the day of strike on the Régie des transports parisiens have work. With five lines completely closed and nine lines open only at peak times – but with many stations not served – it’s a black day for Parisian travelers.
Like Julien, who is hurrying to catch a bus, they are also affected by the strike action by RATP drivers for wages. “I should have taken the metro but my usual route is impossible“, blows the thirty-year-old, crossed at the Châtelet station.
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Sophie, user of RER A and line 4, says she left home a little earlier, “for fear“. Nice surprise, “there are not too many people“, observes the official. “Many people have undoubtedly decided to telecommute“, she supposes. Same feeling with Séverine*. “It’s even less crowded than usual, people had to make arrangements“Notes this user of the RER A. In the center of the capital, neither the metro nor the RER seemed more crowded than usual this Thursday morning.
“With my electric scooter it’s fine!”
An impression confirmed by Stéphane *, RATP agent met at the Opéra station, closed this Thursday. If some are flabbergasted or swear when they see the ribbon blocking the entrance to the station, “there are half as many travelers as on previous strike days“, Estimates the agent of the Parisian transport authority. He explains it by the date of this day of mobilization, “eve of a public holiday“, but also “probably telecommuting».
For others, whose job is not telecommutable, there is no choice but to use Ile-de-France transport. Ferara, who makes the trip every day from the Somme department, recounts having left his home “an hour earlier” than usual. “At 4 a.m. instead of 5 a.m.“says the worker. Of the strike, the sexagenarian has little opinion. “It can not be helped“, he sighs before rushing into the RER A.
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Marguerite, 65, is more resigned. “I haven’t changed my habits. If I’m late for work, too bad“Slices the local mission adviser, who groans against the forecasts of the RATP”that change all the time». «Not stressedSébastien taps on his phone to find an alternative route. “With my electric scooter it’s fine!“, he smiles, more fearful of the return trip this Thursday evening. Amina, 48, says calmly that she willmay have to finish the journey to (his) work on foot».
Not all users take the strike with as much philosophy. “I’m a little drunk“, admits Louis, 22 years old. “Do we know why they are on strike, already?“, he says to his friend, with whom he shares the journey. He hadn’t expected all the stations to be closed and found himself on a platform on line 9 – this one crowded –, without knowing if he would be able to reach his destination. Uber driver, Aymen, crossed around 6 a.m., planned for him “more customers than a normal day“. On the application, it was specified this Thursday morning: “Higher prices due to high demand».
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If we are not quite Thursday morning in a situation without metro or RER called for by all the unions of the RATP, it is clear that the consequences are significant on the network. The impact is also felt on the roads, which are busier than usual. At 9 a.m., nearly 375 km of cumulative traffic jams were recorded by Sytadin in Île-de-France. That’s about 100 km more than usual at this time, according to the traffic information site.
The trade unions, very powerful within the RATP, justify these massive strikes by wages that are too low and working conditions that are deteriorating. In addition, they consider their special pension scheme threatened by the reform that the government would like to see come into force next summer.
The CGT alone on stage in the processions
At the direction of the RATP, it is ensured that the employees of the group have benefited from an average increase of 5.2% of their salary. A revaluation deemed “correct» by Olivier Dussopt, Minister of Labour, who estimated this Thursday morning on Sud Radio that «the movement disrupts the life and daily life of French people who have not necessarily had the same upgrades“. His colleague Gabriel Attal was more virulent. “I heard that the watchword was zero metro, zero RER. I will extend by saying that it is also zero empathy for all the French who have not been able to work, move“, castigated the Minister Delegate in charge of Public Accounts on BFMTV.
New salary negotiations will take place next December at the RATP, under the leadership of the new CEO, former Prime Minister Jean Castex. During a hearing at the National Assembly, the latter also affirmed that the group’s human resources constituted “the first topic on the table” upon arrival. In the meantime, the UNSA RATP does not rule out a “indefinite strike». «Management held a mock meeting this Thursday morning, saying straight away that it had no mandate, so all the unions decided to slam the door.”, reports to the Figaro Arole Lamasse, general secretary of the union, who disputes the figure of 5.2% wage increase in 2022 put forward by management. If the trade unions do not obtain their desired salary increase from “3% a minimum» for all agents, «an indefinite strike will have to be expected in the short term“, he warns.
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The situation is quite different on the side of the SNCF, at the start of a long weekend. Only the CGT-Cheminots called to join the strike movement, which ultimately turns out to be poorly followed. Consequently, traffic should be normal on the TGV lines and little impact on the Intercités lines. As far as regional trains are concerned, 90% of traffic will be provided all day, with some disruptions on the Transilien lines in Île-de-France.
Demonstrations will take place throughout the day throughout France at the call of the CGT alone. Force Ouvrière, FSU or Solidaires have finally decided not to follow in the footsteps of Philippe Martinez’s movement. In Paris, the authorities expect only 50,000 demonstrators in the procession which will leave at the beginning of the afternoon from the Place de la République to go to the Opera.
*The first name has been changed at the request of the person concerned.