Strike of buses and trams in Île-de-France: traffic disrupted from this Monday, May 23

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Traffic looks disrupted on the surface. From this Monday, May 23 – and until Wednesday, May 25 inclusive according to the notice – a strike by trade unions is planned only on the Paris surface network, namely trams and buses. The RATP will be able to provide 60% of the transport offer on average on this same network.

According to RATP forecasts, on lines T1, T2, T3a and T3b, one in two trams will run on average during rush hour. On the T8 line, only one in four will drive during these same times. Traffic will, on the other hand, be “almost normal” on T5, T6 and T7, specifies the transport company.

On the bus side, the RATP has not yet given all the details. But it is expected that on average two out of three buses will circulate, “with variations depending on the sector”. Some lines will even be interrupted, but they have not yet been given.

The metro and RER networks are not affected.

By calling on bus drivers to strike, the RATP unions intend to denounce the new working conditions that their employer is preparing to adopt. New rules that the Régie plans to apply from July 1 to anticipate the opening of bus lines to competition.

“If we don’t change anything, our subsidiaries won’t win any contracts”, warns the RATP

By 2025, the RATP could no longer be the only one to run buses in Paris and the inner suburbs. Like other companies, the public company – more precisely its subsidiary Cap Île-de-France – will have to apply for his succession.

In anticipation, in order to be competitive with these other operators, the Régie considers that it must now modify the working conditions of its employees: “If we do not change anything, our subsidiaries will not win any contract, explained the HRD of the Jean Agulhon group, during an interview given to the media. Our ambition is to start preparing our surface network department for the operating conditions of opening up to competition and what they will be exposed to. It’s a soft landing. This will allow them to keep a better salary despite the increased working hours imposed. »

Unions denounce “a massacre of working conditions”

The RATP provides 20 more hours in return for 450 euros gross per year. With the objective of “reducing operating costs by 1% per year, in accordance with the request of IDFM (Île-de-France Mobilités) and the lack of competitiveness (…) and to provide proof to IDFM, the transport regulatory authority in Île-de-France, of the ability to transform, adapt and anticipate the opening up to competition”, as can be read in the document “Unilateral decision of the employer on the organization”.

What the unions denounce. “It is a massacre of our working conditions. The project provides for 190 free overtime hours, maximum flexibility with the possibility of modifying the schedules 24 hours in advance, ”says the inter-union. “It’s insulting to say that we only work 33 hours! protests a trade unionist. The RATP spends its time saying that we work less. It’s not true. We are not talking about the overtime on which it relies to run the buses.

“We can still push back the competition”

“We want at least to maintain our working conditions. We obtained them after a hard fight in compensation for the arduous work,” adds Jean-Christophe Delprat, from FO bus RATP. “And I still think that through struggle and demonstration, we can still push back the competition,” adds Alexis Louvet, from Solidaires. Some trade unionists, however, fear it: “We won’t be able to mobilize everyone today. It will probably be necessary to wait until July or even September, when the pay will fall and the hours of service will be posted”.

At the same time, Île-de-France Mobilités has commissioned Jean-Paul Bailly, former boss of the RATP and La Poste, and Jean Grosset, former quaestor of the CESE (Economic, Social and Environmental Council), to try to find a solution to the conflict, as they did for the great crown. A few days ago, IDFM presented a “social requirements book”, a framework that companies will have to respect if they want to win the contracts for bus lines in Île-de-France. Conditions resulting from this first work carried out with operators and unions in the greater suburbs.

A first rally is scheduled for Monday at 10 a.m. in front of the Ministry of Transport.

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