The nationwide strike at SNCF, called by the four main unions of the French railway company, was particularly strongly observed in the Bordeaux region. As in large parts of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, numerous employees participated in the work stoppages, leading to significant disruptions in rail traffic.
At Bordeaux-Saint-Jean station, numerous TGV, Intercités, and TER connections were canceled or ran with considerable delays. SNCF had already classified Nouvelle-Aquitaine in advance as one of the most affected regions. Nationwide, only about two thirds of TGV trains and roughly half of Intercités services operated as scheduled. Regional traffic was impacted even more severely in many areas.
According to the unions, the demands go far beyond pure wage issues. In particular, criticism is directed at the worsening working conditions, restructuring in the course of the rail market opening, and staff shortages in numerous professions. Additionally, employee representatives point to rising sickness rates and increasing burdens on the workforce.
Several demonstrations by railway workers took place in Bordeaux in front of railway facilities and around Saint-Jean station. Union representatives stressed the unified nature of the protests. The joint mobilization of CGT, UNSA, CFDT, and SUD-Rail is considered remarkable, as such unified action by the four organizations has been rare in recent years.
For travelers, the strike day meant numerous adjustments. Many passengers had to postpone their trips or switch to alternative means of transport. Carpooling and long-distance buses in particular saw increased demand. SNCF announced that customers affected by train cancellations can change or refund their tickets free of charge.
The unions make it clear that the protests may only be the beginning of further actions. If negotiations with management do not bring progress, more strikes could follow in the coming weeks. The day of action on June 10 is therefore seen in Bordeaux as well as the rest of France as a clear signal to SNCF management and the government.