The railway group SNCF has proposed a salary increase of 4.6% on average for its employees in 2024, including a 1.8% general increase and a commitment to raising low wages so that none of them is lower than 1.1 minimum wage, as well as a value-sharing bonus of 400 euros for the group’s more than 140,000 railway workers. Two major unions, CFDT-Cheminots and Unsa-Ferroviaire, have announced their intention to sign the agreement, while SUD-Rail and CGT-Cheminots have expressed opposition to the proposal.
The CFDT-Cheminots have stated in a press release that after consulting members and management structures, they are clear in their decision to sign the agreement. Unsa-Ferroviaire has also indicated that it will also sign the agreement. These unions represent approximately 42.67% of the votes against 57.33% for those who oppose the agreement.
SUD-Rail has already announced its plans to “build a powerful mobilization” on the subject of wages and called on SNCF management to “reopen negotiations” due to what they consider weak proposals from SNCF management. The CGT-Cheminots, who recently elected Thierry Nier as their new general secretary, described SNCF’s proposals as “indecent and contemptuous” considering the ongoing salary dispute with employees.
The unions have until November 22th to sign or reject this agreement, if there is no majority then SNCF did not ensure that it would be applied in its entirety as it happened last year when only CFDT-Cheminots signed it but despite this lack of majority SNCF still applied planned measures.
In summary, two major unions representing approximately half of the votes have decided to sign SNCF’s proposed wage increase agreement for 2024 which includes an average salary increase of 4.6%, raising low wages so that none are below minimum wage and a value sharing bonus of €400 for over 140,000 railway workers while two other unions with around half of the votes are opposing it calling for better offers from SNCF management or reopening negotiations altogether.
