French railway unions call for national strike that may disrupt SNCF services

Four principal railway unions - CGT-Cheminots, UNSA-Ferroviaire, SUD-Rail and CFDT-Cheminots - have jointly called for a national one-day strike, urging workers to protect jobs, salaries and working conditions. Their core demands include a general wage rise, increased premiums and the establishment of a genuine thirteenth-month pay for both permanent and contract staff, while also denouncing the effects of market liberalisation and insufficient network funding.

The planned walkout could disrupt services across TGV INOUI, Intercités, TER and Île-de-France commuter lines, with SNCF expected to publish train confirmations on its Connect platform shortly before departures. A meeting on remuneration was scheduled at SNCF’s headquarters in Saint-Denis, though details remain pending. The strike is timed just before the debut of Alstom’s two-level TGV M, a high-capacity train that adds roughly 20 % more seats per set. The extent of passenger impact will depend on the number of workers participating.