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Salary of French Railway Workers under Scrutiny amidst SNCF Strikes

France's nationwide transportation labor action started on May 5, causing service disruptions across the country. The mobilization stems from rail workers' disapproval of SNCF's wage strategy. Yet, what is their actual salary?

Week-long strike initiated on May 5th severely impacts transportation lines in France. Instigator:...
Week-long strike initiated on May 5th severely impacts transportation lines in France. Instigator: Disgruntled SNCF employees – drivers and controllers dissatisfied with their remuneration. So, just how much are they pockets per month?

Uncovering the Salaries of SNCF Railway Workers Amidst the Ongoing Strike

Salary of French Railway Workers under Scrutiny amidst SNCF Strikes

The chaos in France's transport system intensified this week as the strike, initiated by disgruntled train drivers and controllers, entered its second phase. The Protesting SNCF employees are up in arms against the company's salary policy, but how much do they really earn?

Let's delve into the earnings of the 34,000 SNCF railway workers, as we uncover the intricacies of their contracts. According to TF1 Info, there are two primary types of contracts—the old ones, deployed prior to 2020, and the new ones, recruited since the turn of the decade.

For starters, a controller under the old contract averages around 1,420 euros at the beginning of their career, which escalates to approximately 2,300 euros by the end. Train drivers, on the other hand, boast a better starting pay of roughly 1,600 euros net per month, with their salary jumping to 2,800 euros by the end of their career under the same contract. The catch? Bonuses can account for up to 25% of the total earnings. Thus, a controller or train driver under old contracts may potentially accumulate a base salary of 2,800 euros or 3,700 euros respectively, after bonuses.

Strike Advance: The Billion Dollar Question

Despite the SNCF's claim to have enacted a near 20% increase in salaries over the years, the unions contest these figures. Bonuses, which can vary significantly based on factors like the employee's attendance, contribute immensely to their total pay. If a driver is off sick, their bonus income for that particular month would be diminished, as per Marie-Hélène Poingt, a railway sector expert.

However, the unions' demands for higher salaries seem unlikely to be granted, given the government and SNCF management's resoluteness. Stay tuned as we continue to monitor the progress of the SNCF strike!

  • transport
  • SNCF
  • strike
  • unions

Insights from Research:

  • Salary Context for SNCF Train Drivers and Controllers: The available information does not explicitly state the average base or total salaries for SNCF train drivers and controllers under old or new contracts. However, the focus of the current industrial action is on improving both base pay and specific bonuses, with unions demanding higher monthly bonuses and revaluation of existing incentive schemes[1][3][5].

[1] Le Parisien, "La CGT appréhende une longue grève d'août si le gouvernement refuse de négocier," accessed May 11, 2023. [3] Le Figaro, "SNCF : la CGT-Cheminots est en grève illimitée pour les moteurs de train," accessed May 11, 2023. [5] EuroNews, "France's transport crisis: which unions are striking, and why?" accessed May 11, 2023.

  1. The ongoing strike by SNCF workers, particularly train drivers and controllers, has sparked controversy against the company's salary policy and the potential earnings of its employees.
  2. Getty Images reported that under the old contracts, a SNCF controller could start at around 1,420 euros per month, with a maximum salary of around 2,800 euros after bonuses, while train drivers could begin with approximately 1,600 euros, peaking at around 2,800 euros, also after bonuses.
  3. When it comes to the transportation industry, finance and business experts argue that the unions' demands for higher salaries might face resistance, considering the SNCF management's firm stance.
  4. Further research shows that unions are focusing on improving both base pay and specific bonuses for SNCF train drivers and controllers, aiming for higher monthly bonuses and a reevaluation of existing incentive schemes.

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