The holiday weekend of July 5 to 7 will see plenty of departures, but will also be marked by a strike on the Vinci network of southern motorways. The CFDT ASF (Autoroutes du Sud de la France) union, according to Ouest-France, is campaigning for better working conditions and against a continued decline in numbers.
At the start of the summer holidays, many French people are preparing to hit the road in the south of France. The trip will be complicated from July 5 to 7 due to the Vinci Network strike Western France This period is dreaded by network staff who fear ever-increasing traffic. As a result, the CFDT ASF (Autoroutes du Sud de la France) union has filed a strike notice for the first weekend of July.
According to ASF reports, since the privatization of the highways in 2006, the workforce has decreased by 30%, with 4,125 employees today compared to 5,744 employees at that time. Yet according to the union, this drop in staff is having a greater impact on toll booths. “On the tolls, no departures have been changed. Until now, we were able to thank seasonal workers in the summer when traffic is high, but this has not been the case for two or three years,” CFDT Vinci-ASF central representative Fabrice Bergheri lamented.
A meaningful strike “without consequences” for customers
The strike is a conflict between dividends received from shareholders, reduced staff numbers and a deteriorating customer experience. Last year, 100 full-time employees were made redundant across the 2,700 km network.
On the other hand, these moves by the private network come at a time when record dividends have been paid in recent years. Shareholders received 2.5 billion in 2023, up from 1.9 billion in 2022. At the same time, prices for users continue to rise. According to Fabrice Bergeri, “for the customer, if there is no problem with the terminals, this strike will be transparent”. Finally, the motorway network for its part confirms that services will be provided on all weekends.
On July 4 at 5:10 p.m., Arnaud Enjourbault was released
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