French Rail Workers Refuse to Return

The management of France’s national railroad system on Friday offered to negotiate with striking workers if they go back to their jobs, but the rail employees voted to continue their walkout.

The nine-day-old strike has cut train service to 25% of normal across France, and management is using buses to replace trains on many routes.

Jean Dupuy, director of the railroad, known as the SNCF, said he is ready to negotiate on the two main points of contention--working conditions and a new pay scale that emphasizes merit over seniority. Management had originally refused to discuss those issues until next year.

“As soon as the trains are rolling, the overtures that I just made, which are very large ones, can be made concrete,” Dupuy said.

But on Friday night unionized rail workers voted against lifting the strike.

Andre Bergeron, head of the union, insisted on “negotiations first, return to work after.”

On Monday, three small unions signed an agreement providing for slight wage increases next year. But most railroad workers voted to continue the strike after negotiations broke down Tuesday.

Meanwhile, dockworkers and merchant seamen decided Friday to continue their strike, which has closed most French ports since Dec. 10, and merchant marine officers in Marseilles voted to join the action.