France Faces Rail Disruption as Unions Hold Nationwide Strike Over Pay

France faced rail disruption on Thursday, November 5, as trade unions called a nationwide strike and demonstrations over pay and public services. SNCF's operating notice said TGV services would be slightly disrupted, with at least nine trains in ten running, while Intercités, regional TER trains and Île-de-France commuter services faced disruption. The CFDT, CGT, FO, UNSA and FSU called on public- and private-sector employees, young people and retirees to take part. Their joint statement demanded immediate wage negotiations, equal pay for women and men, higher pensions, improved civil-service pay scales and increases in minimum wages and social benefits. The CGT's current mobilization page urged workers to “generalise the strike.” The rail operator's service plan included one train in two between Paris Gare de Lyon and Montargis, and between Paris Gare de Lyon and Montereau, during specified commuter periods. Italian infrastructure manager RFI also warned that the SNCF strike could cause delays, cancellations, service changes and shortened journeys on the Ventimiglia–Breil–Limone–Cuneo regional route. The joint union call was signed on October 5, following public-service strikes and demonstrations on September 29. It also sought additional resources for public services and investment in industry and the environmental transition. The unions argued that the proposed budget would freeze benefits and civil-service pay and weaken social protection. Those are the unions' criticisms of the budget, alongside their demands for better conditions for students.